JP2012003121A - Stereoscopic image print and method for producing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stereoscopic image print which can be observed without wearing polarization glasses.SOLUTION: The stereoscopic image print includes a transparent support (12), and first and second laminates (19a and 19b) in which image layers (16a and 16b) satisfying the following conditions (1) and protective layers (18a and 18b) comprising one or more layers, satisfying the following conditions (2), are arranged in this order from the side of the transparent support, on the front and rear surfaces of the transparent support: (1) the image layers have a dichroic image in which a pixel for a left eye and a pixel for a right eye, configured in such a manner that a dichroic pigment is horizontally oriented, are included with a predetermined arrangement; and the absorption axes of the dichroic images included in each of the first and second laminates are orthogonal to each other, and (2) the protective layers comprise one or more layers included in the first laminate and have an Re of 10 nm or less. The stereoscopic image print includes a patterned phase difference layer satisfying a predetermined condition and a linear polarization layer satisfying a predetermined condition, on the surface of the first laminate and can be observed from the outside of the linear polarization layer.

Description

  The present invention relates to a three-dimensional image printed matter for displaying an image three-dimensionally and a method for manufacturing the same.

Conventionally, as a method of printing a stereoscopic image, a method using a dichroic dye and a method of displaying a printed image of a planar image stereoscopically to an observer has been proposed (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2, And Non-Patent Document 1). In this method, left-eye and right-eye polarization images are formed on a sheet that has been molecularly oriented by stretching or the like, using ink containing a dichroic dye. In addition, as another method for manufacturing a three-dimensional image printed material, Patent Document 3 includes a configuration in which pixels for left eye and right eye are mixed in a fixed arrangement, and on the upper surface of the left eye and right eye pixels. A polarizing filter is provided, and a quarter-wave plate is further laminated on the polarizing film, and the polarization axis of the polarizing film and the delay axis of the quarter-wave plate are mutually used for the left eye and the right eye. There has been proposed a method for producing a stereoscopic image printed product characterized in that each of which forms ± 45 degrees.
These methods require the observer to wear polarized glasses.

Japanese National Patent Publication No. 11-511702 JP-T-2001-505323 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-210182

JOURNALOF IMAGING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, “Full-color 3-D Prints and Technology”, vol.42, Number 4, July / August 1998, J.J.Scarpetti, P.M.Dubois, R.M.Friedhoff and V.K.Walworth

  An object of the present invention is to provide a stereoscopic image printed material that can be observed without wearing polarized glasses, and a method for manufacturing the same.

Means for solving the above problems are as follows.
[1] A transparent support, an image layer satisfying the following condition (1) on the front and back surfaces of the transparent support, and a protective layer comprising one or more layers satisfying the condition (2) Each having first and second laminates arranged in this order from the support side;
(1) An image layer having a dichroic image including a left-eye pixel and a right-eye pixel formed by horizontally aligning at least one dichroic dye in a predetermined arrangement, wherein the first and second The absorption axes of the dichroic images contained in each of the laminates are orthogonal to each other;
(2) The in-plane retardation value (Re) with respect to visible light of the protective layer composed of one or more layers included in the first laminate is 10 nm or less;
A patterned retardation layer that satisfies the following condition (3) and a linearly polarizing layer that satisfies the following condition (4) are provided on the surface of the first laminate, and are observed from the outside of the linearly polarizing layer. 3D image printed matter;
(3) A retardation layer patterned into a first domain having an in-plane retardation of 0 and a second domain having an in-plane retardation of ½ wavelength, each of the first and second domains The left-eye pixel or the right-eye pixel is disposed at a position corresponding to the first stacked body and the second stacked body, and the correspondence relationship is reversed, and the first stacked body and the second stacked body The absorption axis of the dichroic image contained in the laminate and the in-plane slow axis of the second domain form an angle of 45 °;
(4) the polarization axis of the linearly polarizing layer coincides with one of the absorption axes of the dichroic images included in the first and second laminates;
A stereoscopic image characterized in that only the left-eye pixel is incident on the assumed left-eye observation position, and only the right-eye pixel is incident on the assumed right-eye observation position. Printed matter.
[2] Inside the dichroic image included in each of the first and second stacked bodies, the right-eye pixels and the left-eye pixels are alternately arranged adjacent to each other, and the first and second stacked bodies are arranged. The right-eye pixel and the left-eye pixel, or the left-eye pixel and the right-eye pixel are arranged at positions corresponding to each other in the dichroic image included in each of the dichroic images. The stereo image printed matter of [1].
[3] The three-dimensional image printed matter according to [1] or [2], wherein the transparent support has an in-plane retardation value (Re) of 10 nm or less with respect to visible light.
[4] The at least one dichroic dye is liquid crystalline, and the first alignment film and the image layer of the second laminate are provided between the image layer of the first laminate and the transparent support. Any one of [1] to [3], wherein a second alignment film is provided between the first and second transparent supports, and the alignment axes of the first and second alignment films are orthogonal to each other 3D image printed matter.
[5] The first and second alignment films are each a rubbing alignment film formed by rubbing the surfaces of films formed of a composition containing a polymer compound as a main component in directions orthogonal to each other. The stereo image printed matter of [4].
[6] The three-dimensional image printed matter according to [4], wherein each of the first and second alignment films is a photo-alignment film irradiated with light in directions orthogonal to each other.
[7] The at least one liquid crystalline dichroic dye is oleophilic, and the first and second alignment films contain a hydrophilic polymer as a main component. 6] The three-dimensional printed matter according to any one of the above.
[8] The protective layer composed of the one or more layers included in the first and / or second laminate includes an oxygen barrier layer formed of a composition containing polyvinyl alcohol as a main component. The three-dimensional printed matter according to any one of [1] to [7].
[9] Any one of the protective layers composed of the one or more layers included in the first and / or second laminate includes a UV absorber. [1] to [1] 8] The three-dimensional printed matter according to any one of the above.

（式中、Ｒ^１１〜Ｒ^１４はそれぞれ独立に、水素原子又は置換基を表し；Ｒ^１５及びＲ^１６はそれぞれ独立に、水素原子又は置換基を有していてもよいアルキル基を表し；Ｌ^１１は、−Ｎ＝Ｎ−、−ＣＨ＝Ｎ−、−Ｎ＝ＣＨ−、−Ｃ（＝Ｏ）Ｏ−、−ＯＣ（＝Ｏ）−、又は−ＣＨ＝ＣＨ−を表し；Ａ^１１は、置換基を有していてもよいフェニル基、置換基を有していてもよいナフチル基、又は置換基を有していてもよい芳香族複素環基を表し；Ｂ^１１は、置換基を有していてもよい、２価の芳香族炭化水素基又は２価の芳香族複素環基を表し；ｎは１〜５の整数を表し、ｎが２以上のとき複数のＢ^１１は互いに同一でも異なっていてもよい。）

（式中、Ｒ^２１及びＲ^２２はそれぞれ、水素原子、アルキル基、アルコキシ基、又は−Ｌ^２２−Ｙで表される置換基を表すが、但し、少なくとも一方は、水素原子以外の基を表し；Ｌ^２２は、アルキレン基を表すが、アルキレン基中に存在する１個のＣＨ_２基又は隣接していない２個以上のＣＨ_２基はそれぞれ−Ｏ−、−ＣＯＯ−、−ＯＣＯ−、−ＯＣＯＯ−、−ＮＲＣＯＯ−、−ＯＣＯＮＲ−、−ＣＯ−、−Ｓ−、−ＳＯ_２−、−ＮＲ−、−ＮＲＳＯ_２−、又は−ＳＯ_２ＮＲ−（Ｒは水素原子又は炭素数１〜４のアルキル基を表す）に置換されていてもよく；Ｙは、水素原子、ヒドロキシ基、アルコキシ基、カルボキシル基、ハロゲン原子、又は重合性基を表し；Ｌ^２１はそれぞれ、アゾ基（−Ｎ＝Ｎ−）、カルボニルオキシ基（−Ｃ（＝Ｏ）Ｏ−）、オキシカルボニル基（−Ｏ−Ｃ（＝Ｏ）−）、イミノ基（−Ｎ＝ＣＨ−）、及びビニレン基（−Ｃ＝Ｃ−）からなる群から選ばれる連結基を表し；Ｄｙｅはそれぞれ、下記一般式（IIａ）で表されるアゾ色素残基を表し；

式(IIa)中、＊はＬ^２１との結合部を表し；Ｘ^２１は、ヒドロキシ基、置換もしくは無置換のアルキル基、置換もしくは無置換のアルコキシ基、無置換アミノ基、又はモノもしくはジアルキルアミノ基を表し；Ａｒ^２１は、それぞれ置換基を有していてもよい芳香族炭化水素環基又は芳香族複素環基を表し；ｎは１〜３の整数を表し、ｎが２以上の時、２つのＡｒ^２１は互いに同一でも異なっていてもよい。）

（式中、Ｒ^３１〜Ｒ^３５はそれぞれ独立に、水素原子又は置換基を表し；Ｒ^３６及びＲ^３７はそれぞれ独立に水素原子又は置換基を有していてもよいアルキル基を表し；Ｑ^３１は置換基を有していてもよい芳香族炭化水素基、芳香族複素環基又はシクロヘキサン環基を表し；Ｌ^３１は２価の連結基を表し；Ａ^３１は酸素原子又は硫黄原子を表す）

（式中、Ｒ^４１及びＲ^４２はそれぞれ、水素原子又は置換基を表し、互いに結合して環を形成していてもよく；Ａｒ^４は、置換されていてもよい２価の芳香族炭化水素基又は芳香族複素環基を表し；Ｒ^４３及びＲ^４４はそれぞれ、水素原子、又は置換されていてもよいアルキル基を表し、互いに結合して複素環を形成していてもよい。）

（式中、Ａ^１及びＡ^２はそれぞれ独立に、置換もしくは無置換の、炭化水素環基又は複素環基を表わす。） [10] The at least one dichroic dye is represented by the following general formula (I), the following general formula (II), the following general formula (III), the following general formula (IV), or the following general formula (V). The three-dimensional printed matter according to any one of [1] to [9], which is a liquid crystalline dichroic dye represented.

(Wherein R ^{11 to} R ¹⁴ each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; R ¹⁵ and R ¹⁶ each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group; L ^11, -N = N -, - CH = N -, - N = CH -, - C (= O) O -, - OC (= O) -, or represents -CH = ^{CH-; a 11} Represents a phenyl group which may have a substituent, a naphthyl group which may have a substituent, or an aromatic heterocyclic group which may have a substituent; B ¹¹ represents a substituent; Represents a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group or a divalent aromatic heterocyclic group which may be present; n represents an integer of 1 to 5, and when n is 2 or more, the plurality of B ¹¹ are the same as each other But it may be different.)

(In the formula, R ²¹ and R ²² each represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, or a substituent represented by -L ²² -Y, provided that at least one represents a group other than a hydrogen atom. ; ^{L 22} is an alkylene group, each of two or more CH ₂ groups that are not one CH ₂ group or adjacent existing in the alkylene group -O -, - COO -, - OCO -, - OCOO—, —NRCOO—, —OCONR—, —CO—, —S—, —SO ₂ —, —NR—, —NRSO ₂ —, or —SO ₂ NR— (R represents a hydrogen atom or a carbon number of 1-4. Y represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group, a carboxyl group, a halogen atom, or a polymerizable group; and L ²¹ represents an azo group (—N═), respectively. N-), carbonyloxy group -C (= O) O-), oxycarbonyl group (-O-C (= O)-), imino group (-N = CH-), and vinylene group (-C = C-) Dye represents an azo dye residue represented by the following general formula (IIa);

In formula (IIa), * represents a bond to L ²¹ ; X ²¹ represents a hydroxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group, an unsubstituted amino group, or a mono- or dialkylamino Ar ²¹ represents an aromatic hydrocarbon ring group or an aromatic heterocyclic group each optionally having a substituent; n represents an integer of 1 to 3, and when n is 2 or more, Two Ar ²¹ may be the same as or different from each other. )

(Wherein R ^{31 to} R ³⁵ each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent; R ³⁶ and R ³⁷ each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group which may have a substituent; Q ³¹ Represents an optionally substituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, aromatic heterocyclic group or cyclohexane ring group; L ³¹ represents a divalent linking group; A ³¹ represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom)

(Wherein R ⁴¹ and R ⁴² each represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and may be bonded to each other to form a ring; Ar ⁴ is an optionally substituted divalent aromatic hydrocarbon; A group or an aromatic heterocyclic group; R ⁴³ and R ⁴⁴ each represent a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group, and may be bonded to each other to form a heterocyclic ring.)

(In the formula, A ¹ and A ² each independently represents a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon ring group or heterocyclic group.)

[11] The stereoscopic image printed material according to any one of [1] to [10], wherein the patterned retardation layer is formed by curing a curable liquid crystalline composition.
[12] The patterned retardation layer is formed by pattern exposure of a film made of a curable liquid crystal composition, thereby forming or eliminating in-plane retardation to form first and second domains. [3] The three-dimensional printed matter according to [11].
[13] The three-dimensional image printed matter according to any one of [1] to [12], wherein a non-depolarizing reflective layer is provided on a surface opposite to the observation side.
[14] A dichroic dye composition containing at least an organic solvent and at least one dichroic dye dissolved in the organic solvent, on the front and back surfaces of the transparent support, simultaneously or separately, Each of the at least one dichroic dye is voluntarily or following by coating each of the image pixels and the right-eye pixels in an image-like manner in a predetermined arrangement; and evaporating the organic solvent in the composition. Horizontally oriented;
A method for producing a three-dimensional image printed material according to any one of [1] to [13].
[15] The method according to [14], wherein the liquid crystalline dichroic dye composition is applied by an inkjet method.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the stereo image printed matter which can be observed without mounting | wearing with polarized glasses, and its manufacturing method can be provided.

It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an example of the stereo image printed matter of this invention. It is the figure which showed typically the effect | action at the time of an observer observing the three-dimensional image printed matter of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the direction of the rubbing process of an example of the rubbing alignment film which can be utilized for this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the direction of the light irradiation of an example of the photo-alignment film | membrane which can be utilized for this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the flow of an example of the formation method of the patterned phase difference layer which can be utilized for the three-dimensional image printed matter of this invention. The top view (a) of an example of the exposure mask which can be used for manufacture of the stereoscopic image printed matter of the present invention, and a plane showing the relationship between the absorption axis of the dichroic image and the in-plane slow axis of the second domain ( b). It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an example of the stereo image printed matter of this invention. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an example of the stereo image printed matter of this invention. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an example of the photographic paper which can be used for preparation of the stereo image printed matter of this invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail. In the present specification, a numerical range represented by using “to” means a range including numerical values described before and after “to” as a lower limit value and an upper limit value.
In this specification, Re (λ) is the front retardation value (unit: nm) at the wavelength λnm, and Rth (λ) is the retardation value (unit: nm) in the film thickness direction at the wavelength λnm. When the wavelength is omitted, the value at the wavelength of 550 nm is assumed. In-plane retardation (Re (λ)) is KOBRA
It is measured by making light of wavelength λnm incident in the normal direction of the film in 21ADH or WR (manufactured by Oji Scientific Instruments). The thickness direction retardation (Rth (λ)) is a value calculated based on the value of Re (λ) and a plurality of values measured by incidence from an oblique direction.
Further, in this specification, “visible light” means 380 nm to 780 nm. Moreover, in this specification, when there is no special mention about a measurement wavelength, a measurement wavelength is 550 nm.
Further, in the present specification, regarding the angle (for example, an angle such as “90 °”) and the relationship (for example, “orthogonal”, “parallel”, “crossing at 45 °”, etc.), the technical field to which the present invention belongs. The range of allowable error is included. For example, it means that the angle is within the range of strict angle ± 10 °, and the error from the strict angle is preferably 5 ° or less, and more preferably 3 ° or less.

In this specification, the term “patterning” refers to a film-like (layered) object in which the directions characterized by optical anisotropy (used to include the slow axis and the polarization axis) are mutually It means making two or more different regions, or having two or more same regions.
Further, in this specification, “crosstalk” and “ghost image” are recognized as a double image and an image other than the target image when the left and right images are not sufficiently separated. That means.

1. Stereoscopic image printed matter FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the stereoscopic image printed matter of the present invention.
The stereoscopic image printed matter 10 in FIG. 1 is a stereoscopic image printed matter that is observed from the direction of the arrow P, and is a first laminate 19a in which an image layer 16a and a protective layer 18a are laminated on the observation side surface of the transparent support 12. And the second laminate 19b in which the image layer 16b and the protective layer 18b are laminated on the other surface. Each of the image layers 16a and 16b has a dichroic image including a right-eye pixel and a left-eye pixel in which at least one dichroic dye is substantially horizontally aligned in a fixed arrangement, and The absorption axes of the dichroic images included in each of the first and second laminates 19a and 19b are orthogonal to each other. A patterned retardation layer 20 and a linearly polarizing layer 22 are arranged on the observation side surface of the first laminate 19a.

Image receiving layers 14a and 14b are disposed between the image layers 16a and 16b and the transparent support 12, respectively. Each of the image receiving layers 14a and 14b is a layer having a function of maintaining the dichroic dye on the surface or penetrating the dichroic dye, and horizontally orienting the dichroic dye independently or following. For example, in an embodiment using a liquid crystal dichroic dye that is aligned independently, the image receiving layers 14a and 14b are preferably alignment films whose alignment axes are orthogonal to each other. Further, in an aspect using a compound that does not voluntarily align as a dichroic dye and that aligns following in the presence of other molecules, the image receiving layers 14a and 14b are stretched in directions orthogonal to each other. It is preferable that the molecular orientation sheet be made. However, in this embodiment, since the dichroic dye needs to penetrate into the image receiving layers 14a and 14b, there are restrictions on the combination of materials. On the other hand, in the embodiment using the liquid crystalline dichroic dye, since it is not necessary to penetrate the dichroic dye into the image receiving layers 14a and 14b, for example, the liquid crystalline dichroic dye is hydrophobic and the image receiving layer is received. Even if the layers 14a and 14b are layers mainly composed of a hydrophilic material, a dichroic image can be formed. In an embodiment using a liquid crystalline dichroic dye, a non-liquid crystalline dichroic dye is used to penetrate into a molecularly oriented sheet, and the dichroic dye is followed following the molecular orientation. A dichroic image having a high dichroic ratio can be formed as compared with the embodiment in which orientation is performed, and as a result, crosstalk and ghost images can be reduced.
In FIG. 1, the image layers 16a and 16b are shown as a two-layer structure. For example, as described above, in the aspect where the dichroic dye penetrates into the image receiving layer and is horizontally aligned, the image layers 16a and 16b The image receiving layers 14a and 14b will be expressed as layers that are not separated from each other.

  The dichroic images included in the image layers 16a and 16b are, for example, data of an image photographed by a digital camera, more specifically, digital data such as an image photographed by a digital camera having two left and right photographing lenses. 2 is a dichroic image obtained by arranging left-eye pixels and right-eye pixels in a predetermined pattern. An example of the predetermined pattern is a stripe pattern. In one example, in each of the image layers 16a and 16b, the right-eye pixels and the left-eye pixels are alternately arranged adjacent to each other, and the right-eye pixels are located at corresponding positions in the image layers 16a and 16b. It is a dichroic image in which pixels for the left eye are overlaid. The dichroic image is preferably formed using an ink jet recording method.

  The first and second laminates 19a and 19b have protective layers 18a and 18b that protect the image layers 16a and 16b, respectively. The protective layers 18a and 18b are made of, for example, a polymer film. The protective layer 18a included in the first laminate 19a, that is, the protective layer 18a disposed on the observation surface side of the transparent support 12, has an in-plane retardation value (Re) of 10 nm or less for visible light. . When Re exceeds 10 nm, the absorption axis of the dichroic image is changed, causing crosstalk and a ghost image. Therefore, the protective layer 18a preferably has a low phase difference. Specifically, the in-plane retardation Re (550) at a wavelength of 550 nm is preferably 0 to 10 nm, and more preferably 5 nm or less. . Further, Rth of the protective layer 18a also affects the absorption axis of the dichroic image and causes crosstalk and ghost images. Therefore, the absolute value of Rth (550) of the protective layer 18a is 20 nm or less. Preferably, it is 5 nm or less.

  The patterned retardation layer 20 has a first domain 20x having an in-plane retardation of 0 and a second domain 20y having an in-plane retardation of ½ wavelength. A linearly polarizing layer 22 is disposed further outside the patterned retardation layer 20 and is observed from the outside of the linearly polarizing layer 22 and in the direction of arrow P. In the first and second domains 20x and 20y of the patterned retardation layer 20, the left-eye pixels or the right-eye pixels of the dichroic image are arranged at the corresponding positions, respectively. The correspondence relationship is reversed between the dichroic image included in the stacked body 19a and the dichroic image included in the second stacked body 19b. Furthermore, the absorption axis of the dichroic image included in the first laminate 19a and the second laminate 19b and the in-plane slow axis of the first domain 20x form an angle of 45 °. In addition, the polarization axis of the linearly polarizing layer 22 coincides with one of the absorption axes of the dichroic images included in the first and second stacked bodies 19a and 19b.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating pixels that the left eye and the right eye observe when the stereoscopic image printed material 10 is observed by an observer who is not wearing polarized glasses.
In FIG. 2, the absorption axis direction of the dichroic image included in the first stacked body 19 a and the polarization axis of the linearly polarizing layer 22 coincide with each other when viewed from the positions of the right eye and the left eye of the observer. The linearly polarizing layer 22 is aligned and bonded. In addition, the patterned retardation layer 20 is positioned at a position corresponding to the pixel for the left eye when the dichroic image in the first stacked body 12a is observed from the assumed left eye position. When the first domain 20x is observed from the assumed right eye position, the first domain 20x is arranged in a relationship corresponding to the right eye pixel; and the second stacked body 12b When the second dichroic image is observed from the assumed left eye position, the second domain 20y is observed at the position corresponding to the left eye pixel, and the assumed right eye position is observed. In addition, the second domains 20y are aligned so as to correspond to the positions corresponding to the right-eye pixels.

  When the observer wants to observe the three-dimensional printed material, the observer observes through the linearly polarizing layer 22 and the patterned retardation layer 20. When observing the image layer 16a with the left eye, the left-eye pixel is divided into the linear polarization layer 22 having a polarization axis direction that coincides with the absorption axis direction of the left-eye pixel and the first domain 20x in which Re is 0. The right-eye pixel through the linear polarization layer 22 having a polarization axis direction that coincides with the absorption axis direction of the right-eye pixel and the second domain 20y in which Re is ½ wavelength. And when observing the image layer 16b with the left eye, the left eye pixel is aligned with the linearly polarizing layer 22 having a polarization axis direction orthogonal to the absorption axis direction of the left eye pixel, and As observed through the second domain 20y in which Re is ½ wavelength, the right-eye pixel includes a linearly polarizing layer 22 and Re having a polarization axis direction orthogonal to the absorption axis direction of the right-eye pixel. As observed through the first domain 20x of zero, They have been together. As a result, the left eye observes only the left eye pixels of the image layers 16a and 16b. Similarly, when observing the image layer 16a with the right eye, the first domain in which the right-eye pixel has a polarization axis direction having a polarization axis direction that coincides with the absorption axis direction of the right-eye pixel and Re is 0. As observed through 20x, the left-eye pixel is observed through the second domain 20y with the linearly polarizing layer 22 and Re that match the absorption axis direction of the left-eye pixel being 1/2 wavelength. In addition, when observing the image layer 16b with the right eye, the right-eye pixel has a linear polarization layer 22 and Re having a polarization axis direction orthogonal to the absorption axis direction of the right-eye pixel. As observed through the two-wavelength second domain 20y, the left-eye pixel includes a linearly polarizing layer 22 having a polarization axis direction orthogonal to the absorption axis direction of the left-eye pixel and a first Re of 0 Aligned for viewing through domain 20x. As a result, the right eye observes only the right eye pixels of the image layers 16a and 16b.

The distance from the observer to the image layers 16a and 16b, the distance from the patterned retardation layer 20 to the image layers 16a and 16b, the midpoint distance between the left eye pixel and the right eye pixel, the right eye and the left eye Since the average distance between them and the patterning interval of the linearly polarizing layer satisfy a predetermined geometric relationship, they can be designed according to the relational expression. For more information, see “Theory of Parallax Barries”; July, 1952; Journal of the SMPTE; vol.
59; You can refer to the description of SAM H. KAPLAN. Note that the conventional technology described in the publication is different from the present invention in that a patterned linearly polarizing layer is not used and a parallax barrier is used. The present invention is superior in that the resolution does not decrease as compared with the prior art using a parallax barrier.

  Since the optical characteristics of the transparent support 12 affect the absorption axis of the dichroic image contained in the second laminate 19b, it is preferably a low phase difference. Specifically, the in-plane retardation Re (550) at a wavelength of 550 nm is preferably 0 to 10 nm, and more preferably 5 nm or less. Further, the absolute value of Rth (550) is preferably 20 nm or less, and more preferably 5 nm or less.

Hereinafter, various members that can be used for the three-dimensional image printed matter of the present invention will be described.
Transparent support:
The support that the stereoscopic image printed matter of the present invention has is transparent. Specifically, the light transmittance is preferably 70% or more, more preferably 80% or more, and particularly preferably 90% or more. In order not to affect the polarization of the dichroic image contained in the second laminate on the back side, the support is preferably low phase difference or isotropic as described above. The description of paragraph number [0013] of JP-A-2002-222942 can be applied to specific examples and preferred embodiments of polymers that can be used as materials for low retardation films or optically isotropic films. Further, even a conventionally known polymer such as polycarbonate or polysulfone that easily develops birefringence is used by reducing the expression by modifying the molecule described in International Publication WO00 / 26705. You can also.

  A cellulose acylate film can also be used as the transparent support. As the cellulose acylate film having a low retardation, a film mainly composed of cellulose acetate having an acetylation degree of 55.0 to 62.5% is preferable. In particular, the acetylation degree is preferably 57.0 to 62.0%. The description of paragraph number [0021] of JP-A No. 2002-196146 can be applied to the degree of acetylation, the range thereof, and the chemical structure of cellulose acetate. The production of a cellulose acylate film using a non-chlorinated solvent is described in detail in JIII Journal of Technical Disclosure No. 2001-1745, and the cellulose acylate film described therein is also preferably used in the present invention. be able to.

  The cellulose acylate film is preferably produced from the prepared cellulose acylate solution (dope) by a solvent cast method. Using the prepared cellulose acylate solution (dope), a film can be formed by casting two or more layers of the dope. The description of paragraph numbers [0038] to [0040] of JP-A No. 2002-139621 can be applied to the formation of the film. A film produced by a melt film forming method can also be used.

A plasticizer can be added to the cellulose acylate film in order to improve mechanical properties or to improve the drying speed. As a plasticizer, the aspect of paragraph number [0043] of JP, 2002-139621, A and a desirable range are applicable to the present invention.
In addition, deterioration inhibitors (eg, antioxidants, peroxide decomposers, radical inhibitors, metal deactivators, acid scavengers, amines) and UV inhibitors are added to cellulose acylate films. Also good. Regarding the deterioration preventing agent, the description in paragraph number [0044] of JP-A No. 2002-139621 can be applied. As a particularly preferred example of the deterioration preventing agent, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) can be mentioned. The ultraviolet ray preventing agent is described in JP-A-7-11056.

In order to improve the adhesion to the image layer (image receiving layer in FIG. 1), a surface-treated cellulose acylate film can be used as a transparent support. Regarding the surface treatment of the cellulose acylate film and the surface energy of the solid, the description in paragraph numbers [0051] to [0052] of JP-A No. 2002-196146 can be applied.
Moreover, in order to improve adhesiveness with the 1st and 2nd alignment film, you may form an easily bonding layer in the surface back surface of a transparent support body.

  Other transparent supports include cycloolefin polymer films, acrylic polymer films, polycarbonate polymers, polyester polymers, polystyrene polymers, polyolefin polymers, vinyl chloride polymers, amide polymers, imide polymers, sulfones. Polymer, polyether sulfone polymer, polyether ether ketone polymer, polyphenylene sulfide polymer, vinylidene chloride polymer, vinyl alcohol polymer, vinyl butyral polymer, arylate polymer, polyoxymethylene polymer, epoxy polymer, Or the polymer which mixed the said polymer is mention | raise | lifted as an example. The polymer film of the present invention can also be formed as a cured layer of an ultraviolet-curable or thermosetting resin such as acrylic, urethane, acrylic urethane, epoxy, or silicone.

  In addition, as a material for forming the transparent support of the present invention, a thermoplastic norbornene resin can also be preferably used. Examples of the thermoplastic norbornene-based resin include ZEONEX, ZEONOR manufactured by Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd., and ARTON manufactured by JSR Corporation. Thus, a commercially available polymer film can be used as it is.

  Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular about the thickness of the said support body, Usually, it is the range of 5-500 micrometers, Furthermore, the range of 20-250 micrometers is preferable, Especially the range of 30-180 micrometers is the most preferable. In addition, as an optical use, the range of 30-110 micrometers is especially preferable.

Image layer:
The three-dimensional image printed matter of the present invention has an image layer in which a dichroic image is formed on the back surface and the front surface of the transparent support. For example, even if the dichroic image is formed on the alignment film, the image layer is a layer in which the dichroic dye penetrates into the molecular alignment film to form a dichroic image. May be. In the former embodiment, it is preferable to use a liquid crystalline dichroic dye as the dichroic dye from the viewpoint of reducing crosstalk and ghost images. Below, the aspect using an alignment film as an image receiving layer is demonstrated in detail.

  In the present specification, the “alignment film” means a film having the ability to regulate alignment of liquid crystal molecules. Each alignment film has an alignment axis that regulates alignment of liquid crystal molecules, and the liquid crystal molecules are aligned according to the alignment axis. In one example, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned with their long axes parallel to the alignment axis, and in another example, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned with their long axes orthogonal to the alignment axis. In the stereoscopic image printed matter of this embodiment, it is not necessary for the liquid crystalline dichroic dye to penetrate into the alignment film. The liquid crystalline dichroic dye is aligned according to its alignment axis by its alignment ability and by the regulating force of the alignment film. Therefore, it is not necessary to determine the material of the alignment film in combination with the liquid crystalline dichroic dye used for image formation. In this aspect, for example, the alignment film is an aspect in which a hydrophilic polymer is a main component. In addition, an image can be formed with a hydrophobic liquid crystalline dichroic dye.

  In this embodiment, any alignment film having an alignment regulating ability may be used. Further, the alignment film may be made of any material as long as the dichroic dye molecules can be brought into a desired alignment state. A representative example is a rubbing alignment film formed by rubbing the surface of a film made of an organic compound (preferably a polymer). Besides, oblique deposition of an inorganic compound, formation of a layer having microgrooves, and It can be formed by means such as accumulation of organic compounds (eg, ω-tricosanoic acid, dioctadecylmethylammonium chloride, methyl stearylate) by the Langmuir-Blodgett method (LB film). Furthermore, an alignment film in which an alignment regulating force is generated by application of an electric field, application of a magnetic field or light irradiation is also known. Among these, in this embodiment, a rubbing alignment film formed by rubbing treatment is preferable from the viewpoint of easy control of the pretilt angle of the alignment film, and a photo alignment film formed by light irradiation is preferable from the viewpoint of uniformity of alignment. .

-Rubbing alignment film Generally, a rubin alignment film is mainly composed of a polymer. The polymer material for alignment film is described in many documents, and many commercially available products can be obtained. In this embodiment, the polymer material used for forming the alignment film is preferably polyvinyl alcohol or polyimide, and derivatives thereof. Polyvinyl alcohol is particularly preferable. Polyvinyl alcohols having various saponification degrees exist. In the present invention, those having a saponification degree of about 85 to 99 are preferably used. Commercial products may be used. For example, “PVA103”, “PVA203” (manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) and the like are PVA having the above saponification degree. Regarding the rubbing alignment film, the description of WO01 / 88574A1, page 43, line 24 to page 49, line 8 can be referred to.
The thickness of the rubbing alignment film is preferably from 0.01 to 10 μm, and more preferably from 0.01 to 1 μm.

The rubbing treatment can be generally performed by rubbing the surface of a film containing a polymer as a main component several times in a certain direction with paper or cloth. The alignment film formed by the rubbing process has an alignment axis parallel to the rubbing process direction. For example, an example of an alignment film for obtaining a dichroic image having an absorption axis shown in FIG. 2 is a rubbing alignment film formed by rubbing in the directions of −45 ° and + 45 ° as shown in FIG. It is. A general method of rubbing is described in, for example, “Liquid Crystal Handbook” (issued by Maruzen, October 30, 2000).
As a method for changing the rubbing density, a method described in “Liquid Crystal Handbook” (published by Maruzen) can be used. The rubbing density (L) is quantified by the following formula (A).
Formula (A) L = Nl (1 + 2πrn / 60v)
In the formula (A), N is the number of rubbing, l is the contact length of the rubbing roller, r is the radius of the roller, n is the number of rotations (rpm) of the roller, and v is the stage moving speed (second speed).

In order to increase the rubbing density, the rubbing frequency should be increased, the contact length of the rubbing roller should be increased, the radius of the roller should be increased, the rotation speed of the roller should be increased, and the stage moving speed should be decreased, while the rubbing density should be decreased. To do this, you can reverse this.
Between the rubbing density and the pretilt angle of the alignment film, there is a relationship in which the pretilt angle decreases as the rubbing density increases and the pretilt angle increases as the rubbing density decreases. In this embodiment, when a dichroic image is formed with a liquid crystalline dichroic dye, it is preferable to perform a rubbing treatment under conditions with a high rubbing density so as to achieve a uniform horizontal alignment with a small pretilt angle. That is, the rubbing density L calculated from the above formula is preferably 10 mm to 1000 mm, and more preferably 50 mm to 500 mm.

-Photo-alignment film The photo-alignment material used for the alignment film formed by light irradiation has description in many literatures. In this aspect, for example, JP-A-2006-285197, JP-A-2007-76839, JP-A-2007-138138, JP-A-2007-94071, JP-A-2007-121721, JP-A-2007-. 140465, JP 2007-156439 A, JP 2007-133184 A, JP 2009-109831 A, JP 3888848 A, JP 4151746 A4, and JP 2002-229039 A2. An aromatic ester compound described in JP-A-2002-265541, JP-A-2002-317013, a maleimide and / or alkenyl-substituted nadiimide compound having a photo-alignment unit, Japanese Patent No. 4205195, Japanese Patent No. 4205198 Photocrosslinkable silane derivatives as described in Body, Kohyo 2003-520878, JP-T-2004-529220, JP-photocrosslinkable polyimides described in Japanese Patent No. 4162850, polyamide, or an ester are preferred examples. Particularly preferred are azo compounds, photocrosslinkable polyimides, polyamides, or esters.

The photo-alignment film formed from the above material is irradiated with linearly polarized light or non-polarized light to develop an alignment regulating force. The photo-alignment film has an alignment axis along the light irradiation direction.
In this specification, “linearly polarized light irradiation” is an operation for causing a photoreaction in the photo-alignment material. The wavelength of light used varies depending on the photo-alignment material used, and is not particularly limited as long as it is a wavelength necessary for the photoreaction. Preferably, the peak wavelength of light used for light irradiation is 200 nm to 700 nm, more preferably ultraviolet light having a peak wavelength of light of 400 nm or less.

  The light source used for light irradiation is a commonly used light source such as a tungsten lamp, a halogen lamp, a xenon lamp, a xenon flash lamp, a mercury lamp, a mercury xenon lamp, a carbon arc lamp, or various lasers (eg, semiconductor laser, helium). Neon laser, argon ion laser, helium cadmium laser, YAG laser), light emitting diode, cathode ray tube, and the like.

  As means for obtaining linearly polarized light, a method using a polarizing plate (eg, iodine polarizing plate, dichroic dye polarizing plate, wire grid polarizing plate), reflection using a prism-based element (eg, Glan-Thompson prism) or Brewster angle A method using a type polarizer or a method using light emitted from a laser light source having polarization can be employed. Moreover, you may selectively irradiate only the light of the required wavelength using a filter, a wavelength conversion element, etc.

In the case of linearly polarized light, a method of irradiating light from the top surface or the back surface to the alignment film surface perpendicularly or obliquely to the alignment film is employed. The incident angle of the light varies depending on the photo-alignment material, but is, for example, 0 to 90 ° (vertical), preferably 40 to 90. For example, in an example in which an alignment film for forming a dichroic image having the relationship shown in FIG. 2 is formed from a photo-alignment film irradiated with linearly polarized light, when forming one alignment film as shown in FIG. When the other alignment film is formed by irradiating light from a direction perpendicular to the alignment film surface and parallel to the first incident surface of −45 ° azimuth in the alignment film surface, Light is irradiated from a direction that is perpendicular and parallel to the second incident surface of + 45 ° azimuth in the alignment film plane. However, it is not limited to this example.
When non-polarized light is used, the non-polarized light is irradiated from an oblique direction. The incident angle is 10 to 80 °, preferably 20 to 60, and particularly preferably 30 to 50 °.
The irradiation time is preferably 1 minute to 60 minutes, more preferably 1 minute to 10 minutes.

  In the above description, the example in which the image layer includes the alignment film has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. As described above, in the embodiment using a non-liquid crystalline dichroic dye, a stretched molecular alignment film can be used as the image receiving layer. For example, a dichroic image having absorption axes orthogonal to each other can be formed by using films stretched in the directions of −45 ° and + 45 °, respectively.

Dichroic dye:
Next, the dichroic dye used for image formation in the present invention will be described in detail.
In the present invention, it is preferable to use a dichroic dye composition containing at least one azo dichroic dye having nematic liquid crystallinity for image formation. In the present invention, the “dichroic dye” means a dye having different absorbance depending on the direction. Further, “dichroic” and “dichroic ratio” are the ratios of the absorbance of polarized light in the absorption axis direction to the absorbance of polarized light in the direction of the polarization axis when the dichroic dye composition is a dichroic dye layer. Calculated by
The dichroic dye composition in the present invention particularly preferably contains at least one azo dye represented by the following general formula (I), (II), (III), or (IV). The dichroic dyes represented by the following general formulas (I) to (IV) preferably have nematic liquid crystal properties.

In the formula, R ^{11 to} R ¹⁴ each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent; R ¹⁵ and R ¹⁶ each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group; L ¹¹ is, -N = N -, - CH = N -, - N = CH -, - C (= O) O -, - OC (= O) -, or represents -CH = ^{CH-; a 11} is A phenyl group which may have a substituent, a naphthyl group which may have a substituent, or an aromatic heterocyclic group which may have a substituent; B ¹¹ has a substituent; A divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group or a divalent aromatic heterocyclic group which may optionally be represented; n represents an integer of 1 to 5, and when n is 2 or more, a plurality of B ¹¹ may be the same as each other May be different.

In the general formula ^(I), the substituent represented by R 11 ^{to R 14} may include the following groups.
An alkyl group (preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 12 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 1 to 8 carbon atoms, such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, an isopropyl group, a tert-butyl group, n-octyl group, n-decyl group, n-hexadecyl group, cyclopropyl group, cyclopentyl group, cyclohexyl group and the like, alkenyl group (preferably having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 12 carbon atoms, Particularly preferred are alkenyl groups having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, such as vinyl group, aryl group, 2-butenyl group and 3-pentenyl group), alkynyl groups (preferably having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferred). Is an alkynyl group having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 2 to 8 carbon atoms, such as propargyl group and 3-pentynyl group. An aryl group (preferably an aryl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, more preferably 6 to 20 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 6 to 12 carbon atoms, such as a phenyl group, a 2,6-diethylphenyl group, 3,5-ditrifluoromethylphenyl group, naphthyl group, biphenyl group and the like), substituted or unsubstituted amino group (preferably having 0 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 0 to 10 carbon atoms, particularly preferably carbon An amino group of 0 to 6, and examples thereof include an unsubstituted amino group, a methylamino group, a dimethylamino group, a diethylamino group, and an anilino group).

  An alkoxy group (preferably having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and particularly preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and examples thereof include a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, and a butoxy group), an oxycarbonyl group (Preferably having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 15 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 2 to 10 carbon atoms such as methoxycarbonyl group, ethoxycarbonyl group, and phenoxycarbonyl group), acyloxy group (preferably Has 2 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 10 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 2 to 6 carbon atoms, and examples thereof include an acetoxy group and a benzoyloxy group), an acylamino group (preferably 2 to 20 carbon atoms, More preferably, it has 2 to 10 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 2 to 6 carbon atoms. For example, acetylamino group, benzoyl Mino group and the like), alkoxycarbonylamino group (preferably having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 10 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 2 to 6 carbon atoms, and examples thereof include methoxycarbonylamino group). Aryloxycarbonylamino group (preferably having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 7 to 16 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 7 to 12 carbon atoms, and examples thereof include a phenyloxycarbonylamino group). A sulfonylamino group (preferably having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as a methanesulfonylamino group and a benzenesulfonylamino group), sulfamoyl Group (preferably having 0 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 0 to 10 carbon atoms, particularly preferably A prime number of 0 to 6, for example, a sulfamoyl group, a methylsulfamoyl group, a dimethylsulfamoyl group, a phenylsulfamoyl group, etc.), a carbamoyl group (preferably having a carbon number of 1 to 20, more preferably carbon 1 to 10 and particularly preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and examples thereof include an unsubstituted carbamoyl group, a methylcarbamoyl group, a diethylcarbamoyl group, and a phenylcarbamoyl group).

An alkylthio group (preferably having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as a methylthio group and an ethylthio group), an arylthio group (preferably a carbon atom) 6 to 20, more preferably 6 to 16 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 6 to 12 carbon atoms, such as a phenylthio group, and a sulfonyl group (preferably 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably carbon 1 to 10, particularly preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, for example, mesyl group, tosyl group and the like, sulfinyl group (preferably 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms, especially Preferably it is C1-C6, for example, a methanesulfinyl group, a benzenesulfinyl group etc. are mentioned), a ureido group (preferably carbon number). To 20, more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and examples thereof include an unsubstituted ureido group, a methylureido group, and a phenylureido group), a phosphoric acid amide group (preferably Has 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and examples thereof include a diethylphosphoric acid amide group and a phenylphosphoric acid amide group), a hydroxy group, a mercapto Group, halogen atom (for example, fluorine atom, chlorine atom, bromine atom, iodine atom), cyano group, nitro group, hydroxamic acid group, sulfino group, hydrazino group, imino group (—CH═N— or —N═CH—) , An azo group, a heterocyclic group (preferably a heterocyclic group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 12 carbon atoms such as a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom A heterocyclic group having a hetero atom such as imidazolyl group, pyridyl group, quinolyl group, furyl group, piperidyl group, morpholino group, benzoxazolyl group, benzimidazolyl group, benzthiazolyl group, etc.) Silyl group (preferably a silyl group having 3 to 40 carbon atoms, more preferably 3 to 30 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 3 to 24 carbon atoms, and examples thereof include a trimethylsilyl group and a triphenylsilyl group) Is included.
These substituents may be further substituted with these substituents. Further, when two or more substituents are present, they may be the same or different. If possible, they may be bonded to each other to form a ring.

The group represented by R ^{11 to} R ¹⁴ is preferably a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or a halogen atom, more preferably a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group, still more preferably a hydrogen atom or methyl. It is a group.

The alkyl group which may have a substituent represented by R ¹⁵ and R ¹⁶ is preferably an alkyl having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 12 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 1 to 8 carbon atoms. Group, and examples thereof include a methyl group, an ethyl group, and an n-octyl group. The substituent of the alkyl group represented by R ¹⁵ and ^{R 16,} the same meaning as the substituents represented by ^R 11 ^{to R 14.} When R ¹⁵ or R ¹⁶ represents an alkyl group, it may be linked to R ¹² or R ¹⁴ to form a ring structure. R ¹⁵ and R ¹⁶ are preferably a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and more preferably a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, or an ethyl group.

A ¹¹ represents a phenyl group which may have a substituent, a naphthyl group which may have a substituent, or an aromatic heterocyclic group which may have a substituent.
Examples of the substituent that the phenyl group or the naphthyl group may have include a group that is introduced to improve the solubility and nematic liquid crystal properties of the azo compound, and an electron that is introduced to adjust the color tone as a dye. A group having a donating property or an electron withdrawing property, or a group having a polymerizable group introduced to fix the orientation is preferable, and specifically, the same as the substituents represented by R ^{11 to} R ^14. is there. Preferably, an alkyl group which may have a substituent, an alkenyl group which may have a substituent, an alkynyl group which may have a substituent, an aryl group which may have a substituent An alkoxy group that may have a substituent, an oxycarbonyl group that may have a substituent, an acyloxy group that may have a substituent, an acylamino group that may have a substituent, Amino group optionally having substituent, alkoxycarbonylamino group optionally having substituent, sulfonylamino group optionally having substituent, sulfamoyl group optionally having substituent A carbamoyl group which may have a substituent, an alkylthio group which may have a substituent, a sulfonyl group which may have a substituent, a ureido group which may have a substituent, nitro Group, hydro Si group, cyano group, imino group, azo group, halogen atom, particularly preferably, an alkyl group which may have a substituent, an alkenyl group which may have a substituent, and a substituent. An aryl group which may have a substituent, an alkoxy group which may have a substituent, an oxycarbonyl group which may have a substituent, an acyloxy group which may have a substituent, a nitro group, an imino group, An azo group. Among these substituents, those having a carbon atom have the same preferable range of the number of carbon atoms as the preferable range of the number of carbon atoms for the substituents represented by R ^{11 to} R ¹⁴ .

The phenyl group or the naphthyl group may have 1 to 5 of these substituents, and preferably 1 of them. More preferably, the phenyl group has one substituent at the para position with respect to L ¹ .

  As the aromatic heterocyclic group, a group derived from a monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic ring is preferable. Examples of atoms other than carbon constituting the aromatic heterocyclic group include a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom, and an oxygen atom. When the aromatic heterocyclic group has a plurality of atoms constituting a ring other than carbon, these may be the same or different. Specific examples of the aromatic heterocyclic group include pyridyl group, quinolyl group, thiophenyl group, thiazolyl group, benzothiazolyl group, thiadiazolyl group, quinolonyl group, naphthalimidoyl group, and thienothiazolyl group.

  The aromatic heterocyclic group is preferably a pyridyl group, a quinolyl group, a thiazolyl group, a benzothiazoly group, a thiadiazolyl group, or a thienothiazolyl group, more preferably a pyridyl group, a benzothiazolyl group, a thiadiazolyl group, or a thienothiazolyl group, and a pyridyl group, a benzothiazolyl group. Or a thienothiazolyl group is more preferable.

A ¹¹ is particularly preferably an optionally substituted phenyl group, pyridyl group, benzothiazolyl group, or thienothiazolyl group.

B ¹¹ represents a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group or a divalent aromatic heterocyclic group which may have a substituent. n represents 1-4, and when n is 2 or more, the plurality of B ¹¹ may be the same as or different from each other.

  As the aromatic hydrocarbon group, a phenyl group and a naphthyl group are preferable. Examples of the substituent that the aromatic hydrocarbon group may have include an alkyl group that may have a substituent, an alkoxy group that may have a substituent, a hydroxy group, a nitro group, and a halogen atom. , An amino group which may have a substituent, an acylamino group which may have a substituent, and a cyano group. The substituent that the aromatic hydrocarbon group may have is preferably an alkyl group that may have a substituent, an alkoxy group that may have a substituent, a hydroxy group, or a halogen atom, An alkyl group which may have a substituent, an alkoxy group which may have a substituent, and a halogen atom are more preferable, and a methyl group or a halogen atom is more preferable.

As the aromatic heterocyclic group, a group derived from a monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic ring is preferable. Examples of atoms other than carbon constituting the aromatic heterocyclic group include a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom, and an oxygen atom. When the aromatic heterocyclic group has a plurality of atoms constituting a ring other than carbon, these may be the same or different. Specific examples of the aromatic heterocyclic group include a pyridyl group, a quinolyl group, an isoquinolyl group, a benzothiadiazole group, a phthalimide group, and a thienothiazole group. Of these, a thienothiazole group is particularly preferable.
Examples of the substituent that the aromatic heterocyclic group may have include an alkyl group such as a methyl group and an ethyl group; an alkoxy group such as a methoxy group and an ethoxy group; an amino group such as an unsubstituted or methylamino group; Examples thereof include an acetylamino group, an acylamino group, a nitro group, a hydroxy group, a cyano group, and a halogen atom. Among these substituents, those having a carbon atom have the same preferable range of the number of carbon atoms as the preferable range of the number of carbon atoms for the substituents represented by R ^{11 to} R ¹⁴ .

  Preferable examples of the azo dye represented by the general formula (I) include azo dyes represented by any one of the following general formulas (Ia) and (Ib).

In the formula, each of R ^17a and R ^18a independently represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, or an ethyl group; L ^11a represents —N═N—, —N═CH—, —O (C═O) —, Or -CH = CH-; A ^11a represents a group represented by the following general formula (Ia-I) or (Ia-III); B ^11a and B ^12a are each independently represented by the following formula (Ia- IV) represents a group represented by (Ia-V) or (Ia-VI);

In the formula, R ^19a has an alkyl group which may have a substituent, an aryl group which may have a substituent, an alkoxy group which may have a substituent, and a substituent. Represents an oxycarbonyl group which may be substituted or an acyloxy group which may have a substituent.

  In formula, m represents the integer of 0-2.

In the formula, each of R ^17b and R ^18b independently represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, or an ethyl group; L ^11b represents —N═N— or — (C═O) O—; L ^12b represents —N═CH—, — (C═O) O—, or —O (C═O) — is represented; A ^11b represents a group represented by the following formula (Ib-II) or (Ib-III) M represents an integer of 0 to 2;

In the formula, R ^19b has an alkyl group which may have a substituent, an aryl group which may have a substituent, an alkoxy group which may have a substituent, and a substituent. Or an acyloxy group which may have a substituent.

In the general formulas (Ia) and (Ib), examples of the substituent that each group has are the same as the examples of the substituents represented by R ^{11 to} R ¹⁴ in the general formula (I). As for the group having a carbon atom such as an alkyl group, preferable range of the number of carbon atoms is the same as the preferred range of number of carbon atoms of the substituent represented by R ¹¹ to R ^14.

The compounds represented by the general formulas (I), (Ia) and (Ib) may have a polymerizable group as a substituent. It is preferable to have a polymerizable group because the hardening property is improved. Examples of the polymerizable group include an unsaturated polymerizable group, an epoxy group, and an aziridinyl group, preferably an unsaturated polymerizable group, and particularly preferably an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable group. Examples of the ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable group include acryloyl group and methacryloyl group.
The polymerizable group is preferably located at the molecular end, that is, in the formula (I), preferably present as a substituent for R ¹⁵ and / or R ^{16 and as} a substituent for Ar ¹¹ .

  Specific examples of the azo dye represented by the formula (I) are shown below, but are not limited to the following specific examples.

In the formula, R ²¹ and R ²² each represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, or a substituent represented by —L ²² —Y, provided that at least one represents a group other than a hydrogen atom. L ²² is an alkylene group, each of two or more CH ₂ groups that are not one CH ₂ group or adjacent existing in the alkylene group -O -, - COO -, - OCO -, - OCOO —, —NRCOO—, —OCONR—, —CO—, —S—, —SO ₂ —, —NR—, —NRSO ₂ —, or —SO ₂ NR— (wherein R is a hydrogen atom or having 1 to 4 carbon atoms) (Which represents an alkyl group) may be substituted. Y represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group, a carboxyl group, a halogen atom, or a polymerizable group.

Among them, one of R ²¹ and R ²² is a hydrogen atom or a short chain substituent of about C _{1 to} C ₄ , and the other of R ²¹ and R ²² is a long chain substituent of about C _{5 to} C _30. It is preferable because the solubility is further improved. In general, it is well known that the molecular shape and the anisotropy of polarizability greatly affect the expression of liquid crystallinity, and it is described in detail in Liquid Crystal Handbook (2000, Maruzen Co., Ltd.). ing. A typical skeleton of the rod-like liquid crystal molecule is composed of a rigid mesogen and a flexible end chain in the molecular long axis direction, and a lateral substitution in the molecular short axis direction corresponding to R ²¹ and R ²² in the formula (II). The group is typically a small substituent that does not inhibit the rotation of the molecule or is not substituted. As an example of imparting a characteristic to the lateral substituent, there is known an example in which a smectic phase is stabilized by introducing a hydrophilic (for example, ionic) lateral substituent, but a stable nematic phase is known. Little is known about the expression of. In particular, examples of improving the solubility without reducing the degree of orientational order by introducing a long-chain substituent at a specific substitution position of a rod-like liquid crystal molecule that exhibits a nematic phase are completely known. Not.

Examples of the alkyl group represented by R ²¹ and R ²² include C _{1 to} C ₃₀ alkyl groups. Examples of alkyl groups of the short _chain, preferably _{C 1 ~C 9, C 1 ~C} 4 are more preferable. Meanwhile, the alkyl group of the _long-chain, preferably C 5 _{-C 30,} more preferably C 10 _{-C 30,} more preferably C 10 _{-C 20.}

Examples of the alkoxy group represented by R ²¹ and R ²² include C _{1 to} C ₃₀ alkoxy groups. Examples of alkoxy groups of the short _chain, preferably C 1 -C _8, more preferably C 1 -C _3. On the other hand, the alkoxy group of the _long-chain, preferably C 5 _{-C 30,} more preferably C 10 _{-C 30,} more preferably C 10 _{-C 20.}

Among the substituents R ²¹ and ^{R 22} is represented by ^-L 22 -Y representing respectively ^an alkylene ^{group L 22} represents is _preferably C 5 _{-C 30,} more preferably _{C 10} ~C _30, C 10 ~ C ₂₀ is more preferred. Each of the two or more CH ₂ groups not one CH ₂ group or adjacent existing in the alkylene group -O -, - COO -, - OCO -, - OCOO -, - NRCOO -, - OCONR- , —CO—, —S—, —SO ₂ —, —NR—, —NRSO ₂ —, and —SO ₂ NR— (R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms). It may be substituted by one or more selected from the group of valent groups. Of course, it may be substituted by two or more groups selected from the group of divalent groups. Further, CH _{2 which} is the terminal of L ²² and is bonded to Y may be substituted with any of the above divalent groups. Further, CH _{2 which} is the tip of L ²² and is bonded to the phenyl group may be substituted with any of the above divalent groups.

In particular, from the viewpoint of improving solubility, L ²² is preferably an alkyleneoxy group or contains an alkyleneoxy group, and L ²² is — (OCH ₂ CH ₂ ) _p — (where p is 3 or more) It is preferably 3 to 10 and more preferably 3 to 6), or more preferably a polyethyleneoxy group.
Although the example of -L < ²² >-is shown below, it is not limited to the following examples. In the following formula, q is a number of 1 or more, preferably 1 to 10, and more preferably 2 to 6. Moreover, r is 5-30, Preferably it is 10-30, More preferably, it is 10-20.
_{- (OCH 2 CH 2) p} -
_{- (OCH 2 CH 2) p} -O- (CH 2) q -
_{- (OCH 2 CH 2) p} -OC (= O) - (CH 2) q -
_{- (OCH 2 CH 2) p} -OC (= O) NH- (CH 2) q -
-O _{(CH 2) r} -
- _{(CH 2) r} -

Of the substituents represented by -L ²² -Y represented by R ²¹ and R ²² , Y represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group, or an alkoxy group (preferably C _{1 to} C ₁₀ , more preferably C _{1 to} C _5. An alkoxy group), a carboxyl group, a halogen atom, or a polymerizable group.
Depending on the combination of L ²² and Y, the end of -L ²² -Y can be a substituent that enhances intermolecular interaction such as a carboxyl group, amino group, ammonium group, etc., and can also be a sulfonyloxy group, halogen atom, etc. It can also be a leaving group.
The terminal of -L ²² -Y may be a substituent that forms a covalent bond with another molecule, such as a crosslinkable group or a polymerizable group. For example, —O—C (═O) CH═CH ₂ And a polymerizable group such as —O—C (═O) C (CH ₃ ) ═CH ₂ .

  When used as a material for a cured film, Y is preferably a polymerizable group (provided that the compound used in combination is polymerized even if the compound of formula (II) does not have a polymerizable group). If it is, the orientation of the compound of formula (II) can be fixed by advancing the polymerization reaction of the other compound). The polymerization reaction is preferably addition polymerization (including ring-opening polymerization) or condensation polymerization. That is, the polymerizable group is preferably a functional group capable of addition polymerization reaction or condensation polymerization reaction. Examples of the polymerizable group represented by the above formula include an acrylate group represented by the following formula (M-1), and a methacrylate and a group represented by the following formula (M-2).

  A ring-opening polymerizable group is also preferable, for example, a cyclic ether group is preferable, an epoxy group or an oxetanyl group is more preferable, and an epoxy group is particularly preferable.

In the general formula (II), L ²¹ represents an azo group (—N═N—), a carbonyloxy group (—C (═O) O—), an oxycarbonyl group (—O—C (═O) —, respectively. ), An imino group (—N═CH—), and a vinylene group (—C═C—). Among these, a vinylene group is preferable.

  In the general formula (II), Dye each represents an azo dye residue represented by the following general formula (IIa).

In formula (IIa), * represents a bond to L ²¹ ; X ²¹ represents a hydroxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group, an unsubstituted amino group, or a mono- or dialkylamino Ar ²¹ represents an aromatic hydrocarbon ring or an aromatic heterocyclic ring each optionally having a substituent; n represents an integer of 1 to 3, and when n is 2 or more, plural Ar ²¹ may be the same as or different from each other.

The alkyl group represented by X ²¹ is preferably a C _{1 to} C ₁₂ , more preferably a C _{1 to} C ₆ alkyl group. Specifically, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group and the like are included. The alkyl group may have a substituent, and examples of the substituent include a hydroxy group, a carboxyl group, and a polymerizable group. Preferred examples of the polymerizable group are the same as the preferred examples of the polymerizable group represented by Y.

The alkoxy represented by X ²¹ is preferably a C _{1 to} C ₂₀ , more preferably a C _{1 to} C ₁₀ , still more preferably a C _{1 to} C ₆ alkoxy group. Specific examples include a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, a propoxy group, a butoxy group, a pentaoxy group, a hexaoxy group, a heptaoxy group, and an octaoxy group. The alkoxy group may have a substituent, and examples of the substituent include a hydroxy group, a carboxyl group, and a polymerizable group. Preferred examples of the polymerizable group are the same as the preferred examples of the polymerizable group represented by Y.

The substituted or unsubstituted amino group represented by X ²¹ is preferably a C _{0 to} C ₂₀ , more preferably a C ₀ to ₁₀ , still more preferably a C _{0 to} C ₆ amino group. Specific examples include an unsubstituted amino group, a methylamino group, a dimethylamino group, a diethylamino group, a methyl hexylamino group, and an anilino group.

Among these, X ²¹ is preferably an alkoxy group.

In the general formula (II), Ar ²¹ represents an aromatic hydrocarbon ring group or an aromatic heterocyclic group which may have a substituent. Examples of aromatic hydrocarbon ring groups and aromatic heterocyclic groups include 1,4-phenylene group, 1,4-naphthylene group, pyridine ring group, pyrimidine ring group, pyrazine ring group, quinoline ring group, thiophene ring group , Thiazole ring group, thiadiazole ring group, thienothiazole ring group and the like. Of these, a 1,4-phenylene group, a 1,4-naphthylene group, and a thienothiazole ring group are preferable, and a 1,4-phenylene group is most preferable.

As the substituent that Ar ²¹ may have, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a cyano group, and the like are preferable, and an alkyl group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms and carbon A C 1-2 alkoxy group is more preferred.

  n is preferably 1 or 2, and more preferably 1.

  Examples of the compound represented by the general formula (II) include a compound represented by the following general formula (IIb). The meaning of each symbol in the formula is the same as that in formula (II), and the preferred range is also the same.

In the formula, X ²¹ is the same or different from each other, and preferably represents a C _1-12 alkoxy group; R ²¹ and R ²² are preferably different from each other, and one of R ²¹ and R ²² is a hydrogen atom or C ₁ -C ₄ short chain substituent (an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, or a substituent represented by -L ²² -Y), and the other of R ²¹ and R ²² is a C ₅ -C ₃₀ long group. It is preferably a chain substituent (an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, or a substituent represented by -L ²² -Y). Alternatively, each of R ²¹ and R ²² is a substituent represented by -L ²² -Y, and it is also preferable that L ²² is an alkyleneoxy group or contains an alkyleneoxy group.

  Specific examples of the compound represented by the general formula (II) are shown below, but are not limited to the following compound examples.

In the formula, R ^{31 to} R ³⁵ each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent; R ³⁶ and R ³⁷ each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group which may have a substituent; and Q ³¹ represents Represents an optionally substituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, aromatic heterocyclic group or cyclohexane ring group; L ³¹ represents a divalent linking group; A ³¹ represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom.

Examples of the substituent represented by R ^{31 to} R ³⁵ are the same as the examples of the substituent represented by R ^{11 to} R ¹⁴ in the formula (I). Preferably they are a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, and a halogen atom, Especially preferably, they are a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, and an alkoxy group, Most preferably, they are a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

In the general formula (III), the alkyl group which may have a substituent represented by R ³⁶ and R ³⁷ is preferably 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 12 carbon atoms, particularly preferably. Is an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and examples thereof include a methyl group, an ethyl group, and an n-octyl group. The substituent of the alkyl group represented by R ³⁶ and ^{R 37,} the same meaning as the substituents represented by ^R 31 ^{to R 35.} When R ³⁶ and R ³⁷ represent an alkyl group, they may be linked to each other to form a ring structure. When R ³⁶ or R ³⁷ represents an alkyl group, it may be linked to R ³² or R ³⁴ to form a ring structure.
The group represented by R ³⁶ and R ³⁷ is particularly preferably a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and more preferably a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or an ethyl group.

In the general formula (III), Q ³¹ is an aromatic hydrocarbon group which may have a substituent (preferably having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms, such as a phenyl group, Naphthyl group and the like), an aromatic heterocyclic group which may have a substituent, or a cyclohexane ring group which may have a substituent.
Examples of the substituent that the group represented by Q ³¹ may have include a group introduced to improve the solubility and nematic liquid crystal properties of the azo compound, and an electron introduced to adjust the color tone as a dye. A group having a donating property or an electron withdrawing property, or a group having a polymerizable group introduced to fix the orientation is preferable, and specifically, the same as the substituents represented by R ^{31 to} R ^35. is there. Preferably, an alkyl group which may have a substituent, an alkenyl group which may have a substituent, an alkynyl group which may have a substituent, an aryl group which may have a substituent An alkoxy group that may have a substituent, an oxycarbonyl group that may have a substituent, an acyloxy group that may have a substituent, an acylamino group that may have a substituent, Amino group optionally having substituent, alkoxycarbonylamino group optionally having substituent, sulfonylamino group optionally having substituent, sulfamoyl group optionally having substituent A carbamoyl group which may have a substituent, an alkylthio group which may have a substituent, a sulfonyl group which may have a substituent, a ureido group which may have a substituent, nitro Group, hydro Si group, cyano group, imino group, azo group, halogen atom, particularly preferably, an alkyl group which may have a substituent, an alkenyl group which may have a substituent, and a substituent. An aryl group which may have a substituent, an alkoxy group which may have a substituent, an oxycarbonyl group which may have a substituent, an acyloxy group which may have a substituent, a nitro group, an imino group, An azo group. Among these substituents, those having carbon atoms are preferably in the same range as the preferred number of carbon atoms for the substituents represented by R ^{31 to} R ³⁵ .

The aromatic hydrocarbon group, the aromatic heterocyclic group, or the cyclohexane ring group may have 1 to 5 and preferably 1 of these substituents. When Q ³¹ is a phenyl group, it preferably has one substituent at the para position with respect to L ³¹ , and when Q ³¹ is a cyclohexane ring group, the trans configuration is at the 4 position with respect to L ³¹ . It preferably has one substituent.

The aromatic heterocyclic group represented by Q ^31, monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic ring from the group. Examples of atoms other than carbon constituting the aromatic heterocyclic group include a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom, and an oxygen atom. When the aromatic heterocyclic group has a plurality of atoms constituting a ring other than carbon, these may be the same or different. Specific examples of the aromatic heterocyclic group include pyridyl group, quinolyl group, thiophenyl group, thiazolyl group, benzothiazolyl group, thiadiazolyl group, quinolonyl group, naphthalimidoyl group, and thienothiazolyl group.
The aromatic heterocyclic group is preferably a pyridyl group, a quinolyl group, a thiazolyl group, a benzothiazoly group, a thiadiazolyl group, or a thienothiazolyl group, particularly preferably a pyridyl group, a benzothiazolyl group, a thiadiazolyl group, or a thienothiazolyl group, and a pyridyl group, a benzothiazolyl group. Or a thienothiazolyl group is most preferred.

The group represented by Q ^31, particularly preferably a phenyl group which may have a substituent, a naphthyl group, a pyridyl group, a benzothiazolyl group, thienothiazolyl group or a cyclohexane ring group, more preferably a phenyl group, A pyridyl group, a benzothiazolyl group, or a cyclohexane ring group.

In the general formula (III), examples of the linking group represented by L ³¹ include a single bond and an alkylene group (preferably having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and particularly preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms). For example, methylene group, ethylene group, propylene group, butylene group, pentylene group, cyclohexane-1,4-diyl group, etc.), alkenylene group (preferably having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably carbon number) 2 to 10, particularly preferably 2 to 6 carbon atoms, for example, ethenylene group and the like, alkynylene groups (preferably 2 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 10 carbon atoms, particularly preferably carbon numbers). 2 to 6, for example, an ethynylene group), an alkyleneoxy group (preferably having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms, particularly Preferably, it has 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and examples thereof include a methyleneoxy group), an amide group, an ether group, an acyloxy group (—C (═O) O—), an oxycarbonyl group (—OC (═O )-), Imino group (—CH═N—or —N═CH—), sulfoamide group, sulfonate group, ureido group, sulfonyl group, sulfinyl group, thioether group, carbonyl group, —NR— group (where , R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group), an azo group, an azoxy group, or a divalent linking group having 0 to 60 carbon atoms configured by combining two or more thereof.

The group represented by L ³¹ is particularly preferably a single bond, an amide group, an acyloxy group, an oxycarbonyl group, an imino group, an azo group or an azoxy group, and more preferably an azo group, an acyloxy group, or an oxycarbonyl group. Or an imino group.

In the general formula (III), A ³¹ represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, preferably a sulfur atom.

The compound represented by the general formula (III) may have a polymerizable group as a substituent. It is preferable to have a polymerizable group because the hardening property is improved. Examples of the polymerizable group include an unsaturated polymerizable group, an epoxy group, and an aziridinyl group, preferably an unsaturated polymerizable group, and particularly preferably an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable group. Examples of the ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable group include acryloyl group and methacryloyl group.
The polymerizable group is preferably located at the molecular end, that is, in the formula (III), it is preferably present as a substituent of R ³⁶ and / or R ³⁷ and as a substituent of Q ¹ .

  Among the compounds represented by the general formula (III), particularly preferred are compounds represented by the following general formula (IIIa).

^Wherein the R 31 ^{to R 35} are the same as each in the formula (III), and preferred ranges are also the same. B ³¹ represents a nitrogen atom or an optionally substituted carbon atom; L ³² represents an azo group, an acyloxy group (—C (═O) O—), an oxycarbonyl group (—OC (═O) — ) Or an imino group.

In the general formula (IIIa), R ³⁵ preferably represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, more preferably a hydrogen atom.

In the general formula (IIIa), the substituent that B ³¹ may have when it is a carbon atom has the same meaning as the substituent that Q ³¹ may have in the general formula (III), which is preferable. The range is also the same.
In the general formula (IIIa), L ³² represents an azo group, an acyloxy group, an oxycarbonyl group, or an imino group, preferably an azo group, an acyloxy group, or an oxycarbonyl group, and more preferably an azo group.

  Specific examples of the compound represented by the formula (III) are shown below, but are not limited to the following specific examples.

In the formula, each of R ⁴¹ and R ⁴² represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent and may be bonded to each other to form a ring; Ar ⁴ is an optionally substituted divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group Or an aromatic heterocyclic group; R ⁴³ and R ⁴⁴ each represent a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group, and may be bonded to each other to form a heterocyclic ring.

In the general formula (IV), examples of the substituents represented by R ⁴¹ and R ⁴² are the same as the examples of the substituents represented by R ^{11 to} R ¹⁴ in the general formula (I). R ⁴¹ and R ⁴² are preferably a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a nitro group, or a sulfo group, and more preferably a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a halogen atom, a cyano group, or a nitro group. And more preferably a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or a cyano group, and still more preferably a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or a cyano group.

R ⁴¹ and R ⁴² are preferably connected to each other to form a ring. In particular, it is preferable to form an aromatic hydrocarbon group or an aromatic heterocyclic group. As the aromatic heterocyclic group, a group derived from a monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic ring is preferable. Examples of atoms other than carbon constituting the aromatic heterocyclic group include a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom, and an oxygen atom. When the aromatic heterocyclic group has a plurality of atoms constituting a ring other than carbon, these may be the same or different. Specific examples of the aromatic heterocyclic group include a pyridine ring, pyrazine ring, pyrimidine ring, pyridazine ring, quinoline ring, thiophene ring, thiazole ring, benzothiazole ring, thiadiazole ring, quinolone ring, naphthalimide ring, and thienothiazole ring. Is mentioned.
The cyclic group formed by connecting R ⁴¹ and R ⁴² to each other is preferably a benzene ring, a naphthalene ring, a pyridine ring, a pyrazine ring, a pyrimidine ring, or a pyridazine ring, more preferably a benzene ring or a pyridine ring. A pyridine ring is preferred.
The cyclic group formed by connecting R ⁴¹ and R ⁴² to each other may have a substituent, and the range thereof is the same as the groups represented by R ¹ and R ² , and the preferred range is also the same.

  Examples of the compound represented by the general formula (IV) include a compound represented by the following general formula (IV ').

In the formula, the same symbols as those in the formula (IV) have the same meanings, and the preferred ranges are also the same. A ⁴² represents N or CH, and R ⁴⁷ and R ⁴⁸ each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. Either one of R ⁴⁷ and R ⁴⁸ is preferably a substituent, and both are preferably substituents. Preferable examples of the substituent are the same as the examples of the substituent represented by R ⁴¹ and R ⁴² , that is, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a nitro group, and a sulfo group are more preferable. Is an alkyl group, a halogen atom, a cyano group, or a nitro group, more preferably an alkyl group or a cyano group, and most preferably a methyl group or a cyano group. For example, a compound example in which one of R ⁴⁷ and R ⁴⁸ is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and the other is a cyano group is also preferable.

In the general formula (IV ′), the aromatic heterocyclic group represented by Ar ⁴ is preferably a monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic ring-derived group. Examples of atoms other than carbon constituting the aromatic heterocyclic group include a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom, and an oxygen atom. When the aromatic heterocyclic group has a plurality of atoms constituting a ring other than carbon, these may be the same or different. Specific examples of the aromatic heterocyclic group include a pyridine ring, pyrazine ring, pyrimidine ring, pyridazine ring, quinoline ring, thiophene ring, thiazole ring, benzothiazole ring, thiadiazole ring, quinolone ring, naphthalimide ring, and thienothiazole ring. Is mentioned.
The group represented by Ar ⁴ is preferably a benzene ring, naphthalene ring, pyridine ring, pyrazine ring, pyrimidine ring, pyridazine ring, quinoline ring, thiophene ring, more preferably a benzene ring, naphthalene ring, pyridine ring, thiophene. A ring, and most preferably a benzene ring.
Ar ⁴ may have a substituent, and the range thereof is the same as the groups represented by R ⁴¹ and R ⁴² .
The substituent that Ar ⁴ may have is preferably an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, or a halogen atom, more preferably a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an alkoxy group, and still more preferably a methyl group. . Ar ⁴ is preferably unsubstituted.

It is preferable that the bond between Ar ⁴ and the amino group is parallel to the bond between Ar ⁴ and the azo group because the linearity of the molecule is improved and a larger molecular length and aspect ratio can be obtained. For example, when Ar ⁴ includes a 6-membered ring bonded to an azo group and an amino group, the amino group is preferably bonded to the 4-position with respect to the azo group, and the 5-membered ring bonded to the azo group and the amino group is When included, the amino group is preferably bonded to the 3-position or 4-position with respect to the azo group.

In general formula (IV ′), the range of the alkyl group represented by R ⁴³ and R ⁴⁴ is the same as the alkyl group represented by R ⁴¹ and R ⁴² . The alkyl group may have a substituent, and examples of the substituent are the same as the examples of the substituent represented by R ⁴¹ and R ⁴² . When R ⁴³ and R ⁴⁴ represent an optionally substituted alkyl group, they may be bonded to each other to form a heterocyclic ring. Further, if possible, it may be bonded to a substituent of Ar ⁴ to form a ring.

R ⁴³ and R ⁴⁴ are preferably connected to each other to form a ring. Preferably it is a 6-membered ring or a 5-membered ring, More preferably, it is a 6-membered ring. The cyclic group may have atoms other than carbon as constituent atoms together with carbon. Examples of constituent atoms other than carbon include a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom, and an oxygen atom. When the cyclic group has a plurality of atoms constituting a ring other than carbon, these may be the same or different.
Specific examples of the cyclic group consisting of R ⁴³ and R ⁴⁴ include a 3-pyrroline ring, a pyrrolidine ring, a 3-imidazoline ring, an imidazolidine ring, a 4-oxazoline ring, an oxazolidine ring, a 4-thiazoline ring, a thiazolidine ring, and a piperidine ring. Piperazine ring, morpholine ring, thiomorpholine ring, azepane ring, azocan ring and the like.
The cyclic group consisting of R ⁴³ and R ⁴⁴ is preferably a pyrrolidine ring, piperidine ring, piperazine ring or morpholine ring, more preferably a piperidine ring or piperazine ring, and most preferably a piperazine ring.

The cyclic group consisting of R ⁴³ and R ⁴⁴ may have a substituent, and the range thereof is the same as the groups represented by R ⁴¹ and R ⁴² . The cyclic group has one rigid linear substituent, and the bond between the cyclic group and the substituent is parallel to the bond between the cyclic group and Ar ⁴ . It is preferable because a larger molecular length and aspect ratio can be obtained.

  Of the dichroic dyes represented by the general formula (IV), particularly preferred are dichroic dyes represented by the following general formula (IVa).

In the formula, each of R ⁴¹ and R ⁴² represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent and may be bonded to each other to form a ring; Ar ⁴ is an optionally substituted divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group Or A ⁴¹ represents a carbon atom or a nitrogen atom; L ⁴¹ , L ⁴² , R ⁴⁵ , and R ⁴⁶ represent a single bond or a divalent linking group; and Q ⁴¹ is substituted. may represent a cyclic hydrocarbon group or heterocyclic group; Q ⁴² may be substituted, represents a divalent cyclic hydrocarbon group or heterocyclic group; n represents an integer of 0 to 3 , N is 2 or more, the plurality of L ⁴² and Q ⁴² may be the same as or different from each other.

In formula ^(IVa), the range of the group represented by ^{R 41} and ^{R 42} are the same as ^{R 41} and ^{R 42} in the general formula (IVa), and preferred ranges are also the same.
In formula (IVa), the scope of the divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group or an aromatic heterocyclic group represented by Ar ⁴ is the same as Ar ⁴ in the general formula (IV), a preferred range is also the same .
In the general formula (IVa), A ⁴¹ is preferably a nitrogen atom.

In the general formula (IVa), the linking group represented by L ⁴¹ , L ⁴² , R ⁴⁵ , and R ⁴⁶ is an alkylene group (preferably having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms, particularly preferably Has 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as methylene group, ethylene group, propylene group, butylene group, pentylene group, cyclohexane-1,4-diyl group), alkenylene group (preferably having 2 to 20 carbon atoms). More preferably 2 to 10 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 2 to 6 carbon atoms, for example, ethenylene group), alkynylene group (preferably 2 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 10 carbon atoms). Particularly preferably, it has 2 to 6 carbon atoms, such as an ethynylene group, and an alkyleneoxy group (preferably 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as methyleneoxy group), amide group, ether group, acyloxy group (—C (═O) O—), oxycarbonyl group (-OC (= O)-), imino group (-CH = N- or -N = CH-), sulfoamide group, sulfonate group, ureido group, sulfonyl group, sulfinyl group, thioether group, carbonyl group,- An NR-group (wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group), an azo group, an azoxy group, or a divalent linking group having 0 to 60 carbon atoms constituted by combining two or more thereof. Can be mentioned.

The linking group represented by L ⁴¹ is preferably a single bond, an alkylene group, an alkenylene group, an alkyleneoxy group, an oxycarbonyl group, an acyl group, or a carbamoyl group, more preferably a single bond or an alkylene group, A single bond and an ethylene group are preferred.
The linking group represented by L ^42, preferably a single bond, an alkylene group, an alkenylene group, an oxycarbonyl group, an acyl group, an acyloxy group, a carbamoyl group, an imino group, an azo group, azoxy group, more preferably a single A bond, an oxycarbonyl group, an acyloxy group, an imino group, an azo group, and an azoxy group, and more preferably a single bond, an oxycarbonyl group, and an acyloxy group.

The linking group represented by R ⁴⁵ and R ⁴⁶ is preferably a single bond, an alkylene group, an alkenylene group, an alkyleneoxy group or an acyl group, more preferably a single bond or an alkylene group, and even more preferably a single bond. , A methylene group.
In the general formula (IVa), nitrogen atom, a methylene ^group, R ^45, R ^46, constituting atoms of the ring formed by ^{A 41 is} determined by ^{R 45} and ^{R 46,} for ^{example, R 45} and ^{R 46} are both Can also be a 4-membered ring; if either is a single bond and the other is a methylene group, it can be a 5-membered ring; and both R ⁴⁵ and R ⁴⁶ are methylene. When it is a group, it can be a 6-membered ring.
In general formula (IVa), the ring formed by a nitrogen atom, a methylene group, R ⁴⁵ , R ⁴⁶ , and A ⁴¹ is preferably a 6-membered ring or a 5-membered ring, and more preferably a 6-membered ring.

In general formula (IVa), the group represented by Q ⁴¹ is preferably an aromatic hydrocarbon group (preferably having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms, such as a phenyl group or a naphthyl group. An aromatic heterocyclic group, and a cyclohexane ring group.
As the aromatic heterocyclic group represented by Q ⁴¹ , a group derived from a monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic ring is preferable. Examples of atoms other than carbon constituting the aromatic heterocyclic group include a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom, and an oxygen atom. When the aromatic heterocyclic group has a plurality of atoms constituting a ring other than carbon, these may be the same or different. Specific examples of the aromatic heterocyclic group include a pyridine ring, pyrazine ring, pyrimidine ring, pyridazine ring, quinoline ring, thiophene ring, thiazole ring, benzothiazole ring, thiadiazole ring, quinolone ring, naphthalimide ring, and thienothiazole ring. Is mentioned.
The group represented by Q ⁴¹ may be preferably a benzene ring, a naphthalene ring, a pyridine ring, a pyrazine ring, a pyrimidine ring, a pyridazine ring, a thiazole ring, a benzothiazole ring, a thiadiazole ring, a quinoline ring, a thienothiazole ring, cyclohexane ring More preferred are a benzene ring, naphthalene ring, pyridine ring, thiazole ring, benzothiazole ring, thiadiazole ring, and cyclohexane ring, and most preferred are a benzene ring, a pyridine ring, and a cyclohexane ring.

Q ⁴¹ may have a substituent, and the range thereof is the same as the groups represented by R ⁴¹ and R ⁴² .
The substituent that Q ⁴¹ may have is preferably an alkyl group that may have a substituent, an alkenyl group that may have a substituent, or an alkynyl that may have a substituent. Group, aryl group which may have a substituent, alkoxy group which may have a substituent, oxycarbonyl group which may have a substituent, acyloxy group which may have a substituent , An acylamino group which may have a substituent, an amino group which may have a substituent, an alkoxycarbonylamino group which may have a substituent, a sulfonylamino which may have a substituent A sulfamoyl group which may have a substituent, a carbamoyl group which may have a substituent, an alkylthio group which may have a substituent, a sulfonyl group which may have a substituent, Have a substituent A ureido group, a nitro group, a hydroxy group, a cyano group, an imino group, an azo group, or a halogen atom, more preferably an alkyl group that may have a substituent or a substituent. Alkenyl group, aryl group optionally having substituent, alkoxy group optionally having substituent, oxycarbonyl group optionally having substituent, acyloxy optionally having substituent Group, nitro group, imino group and azo group. Among these substituents, those having a carbon atom have the same preferable range of the number of carbon atoms as the preferable range of the number of carbon atoms for the groups represented by R ⁴¹ and R ⁴² .

Q ⁴¹ has one substituent, and the bond between Q ⁴¹ and the substituent is parallel to the bond between Q ⁴¹ and L ⁴¹ or L ⁴² to increase the linearity of the molecule, It is preferable because an aspect ratio can be obtained. In particular, when n = 0, Q ⁴¹ preferably has a substituent at the above position.

In formula (IVa), Q ⁴² may be substituted, represents a divalent cyclic hydrocarbon group or heterocyclic group.
Divalent cyclic hydrocarbon group represented by Q ⁴² may be aromatic or may be non-aromatic. Preferable examples of the divalent cyclic hydrocarbon group include an aromatic hydrocarbon group (preferably having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms, such as a phenyl group and a naphthyl group). , And cyclohexane ring groups.
Divalent cyclic heterocyclic group represented by Q ⁴² may also be a non-aromatic be aromatic. As the heterocyclic group, a group derived from a monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic ring is preferable. Examples of the atoms other than carbon constituting the heterocyclic group include a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom, and an oxygen atom. When the heterocyclic group has a plurality of atoms constituting a ring other than carbon, these may be the same or different. Specific examples of the heterocyclic group include pyridine ring, pyrazine ring, pyrimidine ring, pyridazine ring, quinoline ring, thiophene ring, thiazole ring, benzothiazole ring, thiadiazole ring, quinolone ring, naphthalimide ring, thienothiazole ring, 3- Pyrroline ring, pyrrolidine ring, 3-imidazoline ring, imidazolidine ring, 4-oxazoline ring, oxazolidine ring, 4-thiazoline ring, thiazolidine ring, piperidine ring, piperazine ring, morpholine ring, thiomorpholine ring, azepane ring, azocan ring, etc. Is mentioned.
The group represented by Q ⁴² is preferably a benzene ring, a naphthalene ring, a pyridine ring, a pyrazine ring, a pyrimidine ring, a pyridazine ring, piperidine ring, piperazine ring, quinoline ring, thiophene ring, thiazole ring, benzothiazole ring, thiadiazole ring , Quinolone ring, naphthalimide ring, thienothiazole ring, cyclohexane ring, more preferably benzene ring, naphthalene ring, pyridine ring, piperidine ring, piperazine ring, thiazole ring, thiadiazole ring, cyclohexane ring, and still more preferably , Benzene ring, cyclohexane ring, piperazine ring.

Q ⁴² may have a substituent, and the range thereof is the same as the groups represented by R ⁴¹ and R ⁴² .
The range of the substituent that Q ⁴² may have is the same as the substituent that Ar ⁴ may have, and the preferred range is also the same.
It is preferable that the bond between Q ⁴² and L ⁴¹ and L ⁴² , or two L ⁴² is parallel, since the linearity of the molecule is improved and a larger molecular length and aspect ratio can be obtained.

  In general formula (IVa), n represents an integer of 0 to 3, preferably 0 to 2, more preferably 0 or 1, and most preferably 1.

  Of the dichroic dyes represented by the general formula (IVa), particularly preferred are dichroic dyes represented by the following general formula (IVb).

Wherein R ⁴¹ and R ⁴² each represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent; A ⁴¹ represents a carbon atom or a nitrogen atom; L ⁴¹ and L ⁴² each represent a single bond or a divalent linking group; ⁴¹ represents an optionally substituted cyclic hydrocarbon group or a heterocyclic group; Q ⁴² represents an optionally substituted divalent cyclic hydrocarbon group or a heterocyclic group; Represents an integer of 3, and when n is 2 or more, the plurality of L ⁴² and Q ⁴² may be the same or different from each other.

In the general formula (IVb), the groups represented by R ⁴¹ , R ⁴² , L ⁴¹ , L ⁴² , Q ⁴¹ , Q ⁴² are R ⁴¹ , R ⁴² , L ⁴¹ , L ⁴² in the general formula (IV). , Q ⁴¹ and Q ⁴² , and the preferred range is also the same.
In the general formula (IVb), A ⁴¹ is preferably a nitrogen atom.

  Specific examples of the compound represented by formula (IV) are shown below, but are not limited to the following specific examples.

The compound represented by the general formula (I), (II), (III), or (IV) (azo dye) is “Dichroic Dyes for Liquid Crystal Display” (AV Ivashchenko, CRC, 1994), It can be synthesized with reference to the methods described in “Review Review Synthetic Dyes” (Horiguchi Hiroshi, Sankyo Publishing, 1968) and references cited therein.
The azo dyes represented by the general formula (I), (II), (III), or (IV) in the present invention are described in Journal of Materials Chemistry (1999), 9 (11), 2755-2763, etc. It can be easily synthesized according to the method described.

The azo dye represented by the general formula (I), (II), (III), or (IV) has a flat core shape, a linear shape, and a rigid core portion, as is apparent from its molecular structure. And has a flexible side chain moiety and a polar amino group at the end of the molecular long axis of the azo dye, so that it has the property of easily exhibiting liquid crystallinity, particularly nematic liquid crystallinity. Have
Thus, in the present invention, the dichroic dye composition containing at least one dichroic dye represented by the above (I), (II), (III), or (IV) has a liquid crystalline property. It will have.
Further, the azo dyes represented by the general formula (I), (II), (III), or (IV) have a high molecular planarity, and thus a strong intermolecular interaction works, and the molecules are in an associated state. It also has the property of being easy to form.

The dichroic dye composition containing the azo dye represented by the general formula (I), (II), (III), or (IV) according to the present invention is high in a wide wavelength range that is visible due to association formation. In addition to representing the absorbance, the composition containing this dye specifically has nematic liquid crystallinity, and thus, for example, by undergoing a lamination process such as coating on the rubbed polyvinyl alcohol alignment film surface, A higher-order molecular orientation state can be realized. Accordingly, a three-dimensional image printed matter using the dichroic dye composition containing the azo dye represented by the general formula (I), (II), (III), or (IV) according to the present invention as a dichroic dye layer. Since the polarization property is high, a clear stereoscopic image free from crosstalk or ghost images can be provided.
The dichroic dye composition can increase the dichroic ratio (D) calculated by the method described in Examples to be described later to 15 or more, and preferably (D) is 18 or more.

  Regarding the liquid crystallinity of the azo dye represented by the general formula (I), (II), (III), or (IV), the nematic liquid crystal phase is preferably 10 to 300 ° C., more preferably 100 to 250 ° C. Show.

The dichroic dye composition in the present invention preferably contains one or more azo dyes represented by the general formula (I), (II), (III), or (IV). Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular about the combination of an azo pigment | dye, In order to achieve the high degree of polarization and hue, the stereo image printed matter manufactured may mix 2 or more types.
The azo dye represented by the general formula (Ia) is a magenta azo dye, and the azo dyes represented by the general formulas (Ib) and (II) are yellow or magenta azo dyes. And the azo dye represented by (IV) is a cyan azo dye.

  The dichroic dye may be a dye other than the azo dye represented by the general formula (I), (II), (III), or (IV). The dye other than the azo dye represented by the general formula (I), (II), (III), or (IV) is preferably selected from compounds exhibiting liquid crystallinity. Examples of such dyes include cyanine dyes, azo metal complexes, phthalocyanine dyes, pyrylium dyes, thiopyrylium dyes, azurenium dyes, squarylium dyes, quinone dyes, triphenylmethane dyes, and triallyl. Mention may be made of methane dyes. A squarylium dye is preferable. In particular, those described in “Dichroic Dyes for Liquid Crystal Display” (A. V. Ivashchenko, CRC, 1994) can also be used.

  The squarylium dye that can be used in the present invention is particularly preferably represented by the following general formula (VI).

In the formula, A ¹ and A ² each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon ring group or heterocyclic group.

The hydrocarbon ring group is preferably a 5- to 20-membered monocyclic or condensed ring group. The hydrocarbon ring group may be an aromatic ring or a non-aromatic ring. The carbon atom constituting the hydrocarbon ring may be substituted with an atom other than a hydrogen atom. For example, one or more carbon atoms constituting the hydrocarbon ring may be C═O, C═S, or C═NR (R is a hydrogen atom or a C _1-10 alkyl group). One or more carbon atoms constituting the hydrocarbon ring may have a substituent, and specific examples of the substituent can be selected from a substituent group G described later. Examples of the hydrocarbon ring group include the following groups, but are not limited thereto.

In the above formula, * represents a site bonded to the squalium skeleton, and R ^{a to} R ^g each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and if possible, may be bonded to each other to form a ring structure. The substituent can be selected from the substituent group G described later.
In particular, the following examples are preferable.
In Formula A-1, R ^c is —N (R ^c1 ) (R ^c2 ), and R ^c1 and R ^c2 are each a hydrogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted C 1-10 substituted or unsubstituted group. Represents an alkyl group, and R ^b and R ^d are hydrogen atoms, that is, a group represented by the following formula A-1a.
In Formula A-2, ^Re is a hydroxy group, that is, a group represented by Formula A-2a below.
In formula A-3, R ^e is a hydroxy group, R ^c and R ^d are hydrogen atoms, that is, a group represented by the following formula A-3a.
In formula A-4, R ^g is a hydroxy group, R ^a , R ^b , R ^e and R ^f are hydrogen atoms, that is, a group represented by the following formula A-4a.
In Formula A-5, R ^g is a hydroxy group, that is, a group represented by the following Formula A-5a.

In the above formula A-1a, R ^c1 and R ^c2 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; It is synonymous with each in -A-5. Examples of the substituent of the alkyl group include the substituent group G described later, and the preferred range is also the same. When R ^c1 and R ^c2 are substituted or unsubstituted alkyl groups, they may be linked to each other to form a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group. Further, at least one of R ^c1 and R ^c2 may be bonded to a carbon atom of the benzene ring in formula A-1a to form a condensed ring. For example, the following formulas A-1b and A-1c may be used.

Wherein * represents a site that binds to a squarylium skeleton, R ^h represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. Examples of the substituent include the substituent group G described later. R ^h is preferably a substituent containing one or more benzene rings.

The heterocyclic group is preferably a 5- to 20-membered monocyclic or condensed ring group. The heterocyclic group has at least one of a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom, and an oxygen atom as a ring constituent atom. Further, one or more carbon atoms may be contained as a ring-constituting atom, and the hetero atom or carbon atom constituting the heterocyclic ring may be substituted with an atom other than a hydrogen atom. For example, the one or more sulfur atoms constituting the heterocyclic ring may be, for example, S═O or S (O) ₂ , and the one or more carbon atoms constituting the heterocyclic ring may be C═ O, C = S or C = NR (R is a hydrogen atom or a C _1-10 alkyl group) may be used. The heterocyclic group may be an aromatic ring or a non-aromatic ring. One or more heteroatoms and / or carbon atoms constituting the heterocyclic group may have a substituent, and specific examples of the substituent can be selected from the substituent group G described later. . Examples of the heterocyclic group include the following groups, but are not limited thereto.

In the above formula, * represents a site bonded to the squalium skeleton, and R ^{a to} R ^f each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and if possible, may be bonded to each other to form a ring structure. The substituent can be selected from the substituent group G described later.
In A-6 to A-43, Rc is preferably a hydroxy group (OH) or a hydrothioxy group (SH).

Preferred hydrocarbon ring groups are hydrocarbon ring groups represented by A-1, A-2, and A-4. More preferably, they are A-1a, A-2a, and A-4a. Particularly preferred are hydrocarbon ring groups represented by A-1 and A-2, and more preferred are A-1a and A-2a. More preferably, it is A-1a, and among them, R ^a and R ^e are hydrocarbon ring groups represented by A-1a representing a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group.

  Preferred heterocyclic groups are A-6, A-7, A-8, A-9, A-10, A-11, A-14, A-24, A-34, A-37 and A-39. The heterocycle shown. Particularly preferred are heterocyclic rings represented by A-6, A-7, A-8, A-9, A-11, A-14, A-34 and A-39. In these formulas, Rc is more preferably a hydroxy group (OH) or a hydrothioxy group (SH).

In the formula (VI), it is particularly preferable that at least one of A ¹ and A ² is A-1 (more preferably A-1a).

The hydrocarbon ring group and the heterocyclic group may have one or more substituents, and examples of the substituent include the following substituent group G.
Substituent group G:
A substituted or unsubstituted linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms (preferably 1 to 8 carbon atoms) (eg, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec -Butyl, t-butyl, cyclohexyl, methoxyethyl, ethoxycarbonylethyl, cyanoethyl, diethylaminoethyl, hydroxyethyl, chloroethyl, acetoxyethyl, trifluoromethyl, etc.); carbon number 7-18 (preferably carbon number 7-12) A substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group (eg, benzyl, carboxybenzyl, etc.); a substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl group (eg, vinyl, etc.) having 2 to 18 carbon atoms (preferably 2 to 8 carbon atoms); 18 (preferably 2 to 8 carbon atoms) substituted or unsubstituted alkynyl group (eg, ethynyl, etc.); A substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having a prime number of 6 to 18 (preferably having a carbon number of 6 to 10) (eg, phenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 4-carboxyphenyl, 3,5-dicarboxyphenyl, etc.) ;

C2-C18 (preferably C2-C8) substituted or unsubstituted acyl group (eg, acetyl, propionyl, butanoyl, chloroacetyl, etc.); C1-C18 (preferably C1-8) Substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or arylsulfonyl groups (eg, methanesulfonyl, p-toluenesulfonyl, etc.); alkylsulfinyl groups having 1 to 18 carbon atoms (preferably 1 to 8 carbon atoms) (eg, methanesulfinyl, ethanesulfinyl) , Octansulphinyl, etc.); C2-C18 (preferably C2-C8) alkoxycarbonyl groups (e.g., methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, etc.); C7-C18 (preferably C7-12) Aryloxycarbonyl groups (eg, phenoxycarbonyl, 4-methylphenoxycarbonyl, 4-metho A substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group (for example, methoxy, ethoxy, n-butoxy, methoxyethoxy, etc.) having 1 to 18 carbon atoms (preferably 1 to 8 carbon atoms); 6 to 18 carbon atoms ( Preferably a C6-C10 substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy group (eg, phenoxy, 4-methoxyphenoxy, etc.); a C1-C18 (preferably C1-C8) alkylthio group (eg, methylthio) , Ethylthio, etc.); arylthio groups having 6 to 10 carbon atoms (eg, phenylthio, etc.);

A substituted or unsubstituted acyloxy group having 2 to 18 carbon atoms (preferably 2 to 8 carbon atoms) (eg, acetoxy, ethylcarbonyloxy, cyclohexylcarbonyloxy, benzoyloxy, chloroacetyloxy, etc.); Preferably a substituted or unsubstituted sulfonyloxy group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms (eg, methanesulfonyloxy etc.); a substituted or unsubstituted carbamoyloxy group having 2 to 18 carbon atoms (preferably having 2 to 8 carbon atoms) ( Example, methylcarbamoyloxy, diethylcarbamoyloxy, etc.); unsubstituted amino group or substituted amino group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms (preferably 1 to 8 carbon atoms) (eg, methylamino, dimethylamino, diethylamino, anilino, methoxy) Phenylamino, chlorophenylamino, morpholino, piperidino, pyrrolidi , Pyridylamino, methoxycarbonylamino, n-butoxycarbonylamino, phenoxycarbonylamino, methylcarbamoylamino, phenylcarbamoylamino, ethylthiocarbamoylamino, methylsulfamoylamino, phenylsulfamoylamino, acetylamino, ethylcarbonylamino, ethyl Thiocarbonylamino, cyclohexylcarbonylamino, benzoylamino, chloroacetylamino, methanesulfonylamino, benzenesulfonylamino, etc.);

A substituted or unsubstituted carbamoyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms (preferably 1 to 8 carbon atoms) (eg, unsubstituted carbamoyl, methylcarbamoyl, ethylcarbamoyl, n-butylcarbamoyl, t-butylcarbamoyl, dimethylcarbamoyl, morpholino) Carbamoyl, pyrrolidinocarbamoyl, etc.); unsubstituted sulfamoyl group, substituted sulfamoyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms (preferably 1 to 8 carbon atoms) (eg, methylsulfamoyl, phenylsulfamoyl etc.); halogen atom ( Eg, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, etc.); hydroxyl group; nitro group; cyano group; carboxyl group; heterocyclic group (eg, oxazole, benzoxazole, thiazole, benzothiazole, imidazole, benzimidazole, indolenine, pyridine, sulfolane, furan) , Thiophene, Razoru, pyrrole, chroman, coumarin, etc.).

  Examples of the dichroic squalium dye represented by the formula (VI) include the following exemplary compounds, but are not limited thereto.

  The dichroic squarylium dye represented by the general formula (VI) in the present invention is described in Journal of Chemical Society, Perkin Trans. 1 (2000), 599-603, Synthesis (2002), No. 3, 413-417, etc. It can be easily synthesized according to the method described.

  In the dichroic dye used in the present invention, the angle formed by the transition moment and the molecular long axis is preferably 0 ° or more and 20 ° or less, more preferably 0 ° or more and 15 ° or less, and further preferably 0 °. It is 10 degrees or less and particularly preferably 0 degrees or more and 5 degrees or less. Here, the molecular long axis refers to an axis connecting two atoms having the maximum interatomic distance in the compound. The direction of the transition moment can be obtained by molecular orbital calculation, from which the angle with the molecular major axis can also be calculated.

The dichroic dye used in the present invention preferably has a rigid linear structure. Specifically, the molecular length is preferably 17 cm or more, more preferably 20 cm or more, and further preferably 25 cm or more. The aspect ratio is preferably 1.7 or more, more preferably 2 or more, and further preferably 2.5 or more. As a result, good uniaxial orientation is achieved, and a dichroic dye layer and a three-dimensional image printed matter with high polarization performance can be obtained.
Here, the molecular length is a value obtained by adding the van der Waals radii of two atoms at both ends to the maximum interatomic distance in the compound. The aspect ratio is the molecular length / molecular width. The molecular width is the maximum interatomic distance when each atom is projected onto a plane perpendicular to the molecular long axis plus the van der Waals radii of two atoms at both ends. Value.

  The dichroic dye composition contains one or more dyes represented by the general formula (I), (II), (III), (IV), or (VI) as a main component. Specifically, the content of the dye represented by the general formula (I), (II), (III), (IV), or (VI) is based on the total content of all the contained dyes. It is preferably 80% by mass or more, particularly preferably 90% by mass or more. The upper limit is 100% by mass, that is, all the dyes contained may of course be dyes represented by the general formula (I), (II), (III), (IV) or (VI). Good.

  Further, in the total solid content excluding the solvent contained in the dichroic dye composition, it is represented by one or more general formulas (I), (II), (III), (IV), or (VI). The content of the dichroic dye is preferably 20% by mass or more, and particularly preferably 30% by mass or more. The upper limit is not particularly limited, but in an embodiment containing other additives such as the following surfactants, in order to obtain those effects, all solids except for the solvent contained in the dichroic dye composition are included. The content of the dichroic dye represented by one or more general formulas (I), (II), (III), (IV), or (VI) in the minute is 95% by mass or less. Preferably, it is 90 mass% or less.

  When the coating liquid of the dichroic dye composition is applied onto the alignment film, the dichroic dye is aligned at the tilt angle of the alignment film at the interface with the alignment film and is aligned at the tilt angle of the air interface at the interface with air. To do. Horizontal orientation can be realized by applying the dichroic dye composition coating liquid of the present invention to the surface of the alignment film and then orienting the dichroic dye uniformly (monodomain orientation).

  In the present invention, the tilt angle refers to an angle formed between the major axis direction of the molecule of the dichroic dye and the interface (alignment film interface or air interface). By reducing the tilt angle on the alignment film side to a certain extent and performing horizontal alignment, optical performance preferable as a three-dimensional image print can be obtained more effectively. Therefore, from the viewpoint of suppressing crosstalk and ghost images, the preferred tilt angle on the alignment film side is 0 ° to 10 °, more preferably 0 ° to 5 °, particularly preferably 0 ° to 2 °, and most preferably 0. ° to 1 °. The preferred tilt angle on the air interface side is 0 ° to 10 °, more preferably 0 to 5 °, and particularly preferably 0 to 2 °.

In general, the tilt angle of the dichroic dye on the air interface side is determined by other compounds added as desired (for example, JP-A-2005-99248, JP-A-2005-134484, JP-A-2006-126768). And a horizontal alignment agent described in JP-A-2006-267183) can be selected, and a preferable horizontal alignment state can be realized as the dichroic dye layer of the present invention.
The tilt angle of the dichroic dye on the alignment film side can be controlled by an alignment film tilt angle control agent or the like.

  The dichroic dye composition may contain one or more additives in addition to the dichroic dye. The dichroic dye composition is a non-liquid crystalline polyfunctional monomer having a radical polymerizable group, a polymerization initiator, a wind unevenness inhibitor, a repellency inhibitor, a saccharide, an antifungal, an antibacterial, and a sterilizing function. It may contain a drug or the like having

  In the three-dimensional image printed matter of the present invention, the image layer shows a diffraction peak derived from a periodic structure in the direction perpendicular to the orientation axis in X-ray diffraction measurement, and a period represented by at least one of the diffraction peaks is 3.0 to It is also preferable that the intensity of the diffraction peak is 15.0% and the intensity of the diffraction peak does not show a maximum value in the range of ± 70 ° in the normal direction of the film in the plane perpendicular to the alignment axis.

  Here, the orientation axis means a direction in which the image layer of the dichroic dye exhibits the greatest absorbance with respect to linearly polarized light, and usually coincides with the direction in which the orientation treatment is performed. For example, in a film in which the horizontal alignment of the dichroic dye composition is fixed, the alignment axis is an axis in the film plane, and the alignment process direction (when the rubbing alignment film is used in the present invention, the alignment direction is the same as the rubbing direction. If the photo-alignment film is used, it coincides with the direction having the highest birefringence expressed by light irradiation to the photo-alignment film).

  In general, the dichroic dye (particularly azo dichroic dye) that forms the image layer is a rod-like molecule having a large aspect ratio (= molecular long axis length / molecular short axis length), and almost coincides with the molecular long axis direction. There is a transition moment that absorbs visible light in the direction (Non-Patent Document Dichroic Dyes for Liquid Crystal Displays). For this reason, the image layer formed from the dichroic dye exhibits a higher dichroic ratio as the angle formed between the molecular long axis of the dichroic dye and the orientation axis is smaller on average and the variation is smaller.

  The image layer preferably exhibits a diffraction peak derived from a period in a direction perpendicular to the alignment axis. The period corresponds to, for example, the intermolecular distance in the molecular minor axis direction of a dichroic dye aligned with the molecular major axis aligned with the alignment axis direction, and in the present invention, the range is 3.0 to 15.0 mm. Is more preferable, 3.0 to 10.0 mm, more preferably 3.0 to 6.0 mm, particularly preferably 3.3 to 5.5 mm.

  It is also preferred that the image layer of the dichroic dye does not exhibit a maximum value when the intensity distribution is measured in the range of the film normal direction ± 70 ° in the plane perpendicular to the orientation axis with respect to the diffraction peak. When the intensity of the diffraction peak shows a maximum value in the measurement, it indicates that there is anisotropy in packing in the direction perpendicular to the orientation axis, that is, in the molecular minor axis direction. Specific examples of such an aggregate state include a crystal, a hexatic phase, and a crystal phase. If the packing has anisotropy, domains and grain boundaries are generated due to discontinuous packing, which may cause haze, disorder of orientation for each domain, and depolarization. Since the image layer according to the present invention has no anisotropy in the packing in the direction perpendicular to the alignment axis, a uniform film is formed without generating domains and grain boundaries. Specific examples of such an aggregate state include a nematic phase, a smectic A phase, and a supercooled state of these phases, but are not limited thereto. Moreover, the aspect which shows the characteristic of the said diffraction peak as a whole may be sufficient as a plurality of aggregate states are mixed.

  Since the image layer formed from the dichroic dye is generally used for light incident at an angle perpendicular to or nearly perpendicular to the film, it preferably has a high dichroic ratio in the in-plane direction. Therefore, it is preferable that the image layer of the dichroic dye has a periodic structure in the in-plane direction and exhibits a diffraction peak derived from the periodic structure.

  The image layer of the dichroic dye preferably shows a diffraction peak derived from a period in the direction parallel to the alignment axis. In particular, it is preferable that molecules adjacent to the direction perpendicular to the alignment axis form a layer, and the layer is stacked in the direction parallel to the alignment axis. Such an aggregate state is similar to a highly ordered smectic phase than a nematic phase, and a high dichroic ratio can be obtained. The period includes, for example, a case corresponding to the molecular length or twice thereof, and the range thereof is 3.0 to 50.0 mm, preferably 10.0 to 45.0 mm, more preferably 15.0 to It is 40.0cm, More preferably, it is 25.0-35.0cm.

The diffraction peak exhibited by the image layer of the dichroic dye preferably has a half width of 1.0 mm or less.
Here, the half-width indicates the intensity of the peak apex with respect to the baseline in one diffraction peak of the X-ray diffraction measurement, and one half of the intensity at the left and right of the peak apex. It is a value obtained by taking two points and taking the difference between the values of the periods indicated by the two points.

An image layer having a diffraction peak in X-ray diffraction measurement and having a half-value width of 1.0 mm or less is presumed to exhibit a high dichroic ratio for the following reason.
If the variation in the angle between the molecular long axis and the orientation axis of the dichroic dye is large, the variation in the intermolecular distance also increases. Then, when there is a periodic structure, the value of the period also varies, and the diffraction peak obtained by X-ray diffraction measurement becomes broad and shows a large half-value width.
On the other hand, the fact that the half-width of the diffraction peak is a sharp peak is less than a certain value means that the variation in intermolecular distance is small, and the angle formed between the molecular long axis of the dichroic dye and the orientation axis is small on average. That is, it is presumed to express a high dichroic ratio.

  In the present invention, the half width of the diffraction peak is 1.0 mm or less, preferably 0.90 mm or less, more preferably 0.70 mm or less, further preferably 0.50 mm or less, preferably 0.05 mm or more. It is. When the full width at half maximum exceeds the upper limit, the variation in the intermolecular distance of the dye increases, which is not preferable because highly ordered orientation is inhibited. On the other hand, if the value is below the lower limit, orientation distortion is likely to occur, domains and grain boundaries are generated, haze generation, orientation disorder for each domain, and depolarization may be caused.

  The period and half width of the diffraction peak of the image layer of the dichroic dye are measured with an X-ray diffractometer for thin film evaluation (trade name: “ATX-G” in-plane optical system manufactured by Rigaku Corporation) or an equivalent device. Obtained from the measured X-ray profile

The X-ray diffraction measurement of the image layer according to the present invention is performed, for example, by the following procedure.
First, in-plane measurement is performed in all directions for the image layer in 15 ° increments. The orientation in the substrate plane where the peak intensity is large is determined by so-called φ scan in which the sample is rotated and measured in a plane parallel to the substrate while the angle at which the peak is observed is fixed. Using the peak of the in-plane measurement in the obtained direction, the period and the half width can be obtained.

Protective layer:
The protective layer has a function of protecting the dichroic image included in the image layer. A polymer film or the like can be used. The polymer film that can be used as the protective layer is the same as the polymer film that can be used for the transparent support. The protective layer preferably contains a UV absorber. When the protective layer contains a UV absorber, the durability of the three-dimensional image printed material can be improved. There is no restriction | limiting in particular about the UV absorber which can be used. Specifically, UV absorbers described in JP-A-7-11056 and the like can be used.
Note that the protective layer may have a laminated structure of two or more layers. Moreover, the coating film and cured film which are formed by application | coating may be sufficient. This aspect will be described later. In the embodiment in which the protective layer is composed of two or more layers, the UV absorber may be contained in at least one layer.

Patterned retardation layer:
The retardation layer of the three-dimensional image printed matter of the present invention is patterned into a first domain with Re of 0 nm and a second domain with Re of ½ wavelength, and an in-plane slow axis of the second domain. Is a phase difference layer that forms an angle of 45 ° with the absorption axis of the dichroic image included in the first laminate and the second laminate. The retardation layer satisfying the above characteristics is preferably formed by setting the curable liquid crystalline composition in a desired alignment state, causing the curing reaction to proceed and fixing the state, and further comprising the curable liquid crystal composition. A retardation layer formed by pattern exposure of the film to develop or eliminate in-plane retardation to form the first and second domains is preferable. Hereinafter, the retardation layer of this embodiment will be described in detail.

  The retardation layer of this embodiment can be formed from a curable composition containing a liquid crystal compound, particularly a liquid crystal compound having at least one reactive group. By forming the retardation from a curable composition containing a liquid crystal compound having at least one reactive group, the control of the slow axis direction by pattern exposure described later, and the expression or disappearance of in-plane retardation are facilitated. Become.

In general, liquid crystal compounds can be classified into a rod type and a disk type from the shape. In addition, there are low and high molecular types, respectively. Polymer generally refers to a polymer having a degree of polymerization of 100 or more (Polymer Physics / Phase Transition Dynamics, Masao Doi, p. 2, Iwanami Shoten, 1992). In the present invention, any liquid crystal compound can be used, but a rod-like liquid crystal compound or a disk-like liquid crystal compound is preferably used. Two or more kinds of rod-like liquid crystal compounds, two or more kinds of disk-like liquid crystal compounds, or a mixture of a rod-like liquid crystal compound and a disk-like liquid crystal compound may be used. It is more preferable to use a rod-like liquid crystal compound or a disk-like liquid crystal compound having a reactive group, since at least one of the reactive groups in one liquid crystal molecule is at least one because a change in temperature and humidity can be reduced. Is more preferable. The liquid crystal compound may be a mixture of two or more types, and in that case, at least one preferably has two or more reactive groups.

  It is also preferable that the liquid crystal compound has two or more reactive groups having different polymerization conditions. In this case, it is possible to produce a retardation layer containing a polymer having an unreacted reactive group by selecting conditions and polymerizing only a part of plural types of reactive groups. The polymerization conditions used may be the wavelength range of ionizing radiation used for polymerization immobilization, or the difference in polymerization mechanism used, but preferably a radical reaction group and a cationic reaction that can be controlled by the type of initiator used. A combination of groups is good. A combination in which the radical reactive group is an acryl group and / or a methacryl group and the cationic group is a vinyl ether group, an oxetane group and / or an epoxy group is particularly preferable because the reactivity can be easily controlled.

Examples of the rod-like liquid crystal compound include azomethines, azoxys, cyanobiphenyls, cyanophenyl esters, benzoic acid esters, cyclohexanecarboxylic acid phenyl esters, cyanophenylcyclohexanes, cyano-substituted phenylpyrimidines, alkoxy-substituted phenylpyrimidines, Phenyldioxanes, tolanes and alkenylcyclohexylbenzonitriles are preferably used. In addition to the low-molecular liquid crystal compounds as described above, high-molecular liquid crystal compounds can also be used. The polymer liquid crystal compound is a polymer compound obtained by polymerizing a rod-like liquid crystal compound having a low molecular reactive group. The rod-like liquid crystal compound having a low-molecular reactive group that is particularly preferably used is a rod-like liquid crystal compound represented by the following general formula (I).
Formula (I): Q ¹ -L ¹ -A ¹ -L ³ -ML ⁴ -A ² -L ² -Q ²
In the formula, Q ¹ and Q ² are each independently a reactive group, and L ¹ , L ² , L ³ and L ⁴ each independently represent a single bond or a divalent linking group. A ¹ and A ² each independently represent a spacer group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms. M represents a mesogenic group.

  Examples of the compound represented by the general formula (I) are shown below, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, the compound represented by general formula (I) is compoundable by the method as described in Japanese National Patent Publication No. 11-513019 (WO97 / 00600).

  As another aspect of the present invention, there is an aspect in which a discotic liquid crystal is used for the retardation layer. The retardation layer is preferably a layer of a low molecular weight liquid crystal discotic compound such as a monomer or a polymer layer obtained by polymerization (curing) of a polymerizable liquid crystal discotic compound. Examples of the discotic (discotic) compound include C.I. Destrade et al., Mol. Cryst. 71, 111 (1981), benzene derivatives described in C.I. Destrade et al., Mol. Cryst. 122, 141 (1985), Physicslett, A, 78, 82 (1990); Kohne et al., Angew. Chem. 96, page 70 (1984) and the cyclohexane derivatives described in J. Am. M.M. Lehn et al. Chem. Commun. , 1794 (1985), J. Am. Zhang et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 116, page 2655 (1994), and azacrown-based and phenylacetylene-based macrocycles. The above discotic (discotic) compounds generally have a discotic nucleus at the center of the molecule, and groups (L) such as linear alkyl groups, alkoxy groups, and substituted benzoyloxy groups are substituted in a radial pattern. In other words, it has liquid crystallinity and generally includes a so-called discotic liquid crystal. However, when such an aggregate of molecules is uniformly oriented, it exhibits negative uniaxiality, but is not limited to this description. Further, in the present invention, it is not necessary that the final product is formed from a discotic compound, for example, the low molecular discotic liquid crystal has a group that reacts with heat, light, or the like. As a result, it may be polymerized or cross-linked by reaction with heat, light or the like, resulting in high molecular weight and loss of liquid crystallinity.

In the present invention, it is preferable to use a discotic liquid crystalline compound represented by the following general formula (III).
Formula (III): D (-LP) _n
In the formula, D is a discotic core, L is a divalent linking group, P is a polymerizable group, and n is an integer of 4 to 12.
In the formula (III), preferred specific examples of the discotic core (D), the divalent linking group (L) and the polymerizable group (P) are (D1) described in JP-A No. 2001-4837, respectively. To (D15), (L1) to (L25), (P1) to (P18), and the disk-shaped core (D), divalent linking group (L) and polymerizable group ( The contents regarding P) can be preferably applied here.
Preferred examples of the discotic compound are shown below.

The retardation layer is formed by applying a composition containing a liquid crystal compound (for example, a coating solution) to the surface of an alignment layer described later to obtain an alignment state exhibiting a desired liquid crystal phase, and then the alignment state is heated or ionized. A layer prepared by fixing by irradiation with radiation is preferable.
In the case of using a rod-like liquid crystal compound having a reactive group as the liquid crystal compound, it is preferable to perform horizontal alignment. When a discotic liquid crystalline compound having a reactive group is used as the liquid crystalline compound, it is preferable to perform vertical alignment. In the present specification, “horizontal alignment” means that in the case of a rod-like liquid crystal, the molecular long axis is parallel to the horizontal plane of the transparent support. Further, “vertical alignment” means that in the case of a disk-like liquid crystal, the disk surface and the layer surface of the core of the disk-like liquid crystalline compound are perpendicular, but does not require strictly parallel and perpendicular. In this specification, there may be an error of less than 10 degrees, and the error is preferably 0 to 5 degrees, more preferably 0 to 3 degrees, further preferably 0 to 2 degrees, and most preferably 0 to 1 degree.
In the composition, an additive for accelerating the horizontal alignment of liquid crystal may be added. Examples of the additive are described in JP-A-2009-222001 [0055] to [0063]. These compounds are included.

  The retardation layer is formed by applying a composition containing a liquid crystal compound (for example, a coating solution) to the surface of an alignment layer described later to obtain an alignment state exhibiting a desired liquid crystal phase, and then converting the alignment state to heat or ionizing radiation. It is preferable that it is a layer produced by fixing by irradiation. As a solvent used for preparing the coating solution, an organic solvent is preferably used. Examples of organic solvents include amides (eg, N, N-dimethylformamide), sulfoxides (eg, dimethyl sulfoxide), heterocyclic compounds (eg, pyridine), hydrocarbons (eg, benzene, hexane), alkyl halides (eg, , Chloroform, dichloromethane), esters (eg, methyl acetate, butyl acetate), ketones (eg, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone), ethers (eg, tetrahydrofuran, 1,2-dimethoxyethane). Alkyl halides and ketones are preferred. Two or more organic solvents may be used in combination.

Next, the aligned liquid crystal compound is preferably fixed while maintaining the alignment state. The immobilization is preferably performed by a polymerization reaction of a reactive group introduced into the liquid crystal compound. The polymerization reaction includes a thermal polymerization reaction using a thermal polymerization initiator and a photopolymerization reaction using a photopolymerization initiator, and a photopolymerization reaction is more preferable. The photopolymerization reaction may be either radical polymerization or cationic polymerization. Examples of radical photopolymerization initiators include α-carbonyl compounds (described in US Pat. Nos. 2,367,661 and 2,367,670), acyloin ethers (described in US Pat. No. 2,448,828), α-hydrocarbon substituted aromatics. Aciloin compound (described in US Pat. No. 2,722,512), polynuclear quinone compound (described in US Pat. Nos. 3,046,127 and 2,951,758), a combination of triarylimidazole dimer and p-aminophenyl ketone (US Pat. No. 3,549,367) Acridine and phenazine compounds (JP-A-60-105667, U.S. Pat. No. 4,239,850) and oxadiazole compounds (U.S. Pat. No. 4,212,970). Examples of the cationic photopolymerization initiator include organic sulfonium salt systems, iodonium salt systems, phosphonium salt systems, and the like. Organic sulfonium salt systems are preferable, and triphenylsulfonium salts are particularly preferable. As counter ions of these compounds, hexafluoroantimonate, hexafluorophosphate, and the like are preferably used.
The amount of the photopolymerization initiator used is preferably 0.01 to 20% by mass, more preferably 0.5 to 5% by mass, based on the solid content of the coating solution.

Light irradiation for the polymerization of the liquid crystal compound is preferably performed using ultraviolet rays. Irradiation energy is preferably ^{10mJ / cm 2 ~10J / cm 2} , further preferably 25~800mJ / cm ^2. Illuminance is preferably 10 to 1,000 / cm ^2, more preferably 20 to 500 mW / cm ^2, further preferably 40~350mW / cm ^2. The irradiation wavelength preferably has a peak at 250 to 450 nm, and more preferably has a peak at 300 to 410 nm. In order to accelerate the photopolymerization reaction, light irradiation may be performed under an inert gas atmosphere such as nitrogen or under heating conditions.

The retardation layer may be a layer in which in-plane retardation is manifested or increased by photo-alignment by polarized light irradiation. This polarized irradiation may also serve as a photopolymerization process in the above-described orientation fixation, or may be further fixed by non-polarized irradiation after performing polarized irradiation first, or may be fixed first by non-polarized irradiation. The photo-alignment may be performed by irradiation with polarized light, but it is desirable to perform only the irradiation with polarized light or to further fix by non-polarized light irradiation after the irradiation with polarized light first. When polarized light irradiation also serves as a photopolymerization process in the above-described orientation fixation and a radical polymerization initiator is used as a polymerization initiator, polarized light irradiation should be performed in an inert gas atmosphere with an oxygen concentration of 0.5% or less. preferable. The irradiation energy is preferably ^{20mJ / cm 2 ~10J / cm 2} , further preferably 100 to 800 mJ / cm ^2. The illuminance is preferably 20 to 1000 mW / cm ^2, more preferably 50 to 500 mW / cm ^2, further preferably 100 to 350 mW / cm ^2. Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular about the kind of liquid crystalline compound hardened | cured by polarized light irradiation, The liquid crystalline compound which has an ethylenically unsaturated group as a reactive group is preferable. The irradiation wavelength preferably has a peak at 300 to 450 nm, and more preferably has a peak at 350 to 400 nm.

The retardation layer may be further irradiated with polarized or non-polarized ultraviolet rays after the first irradiation with polarized light (irradiation for photo-alignment). By further irradiating polarized or non-polarized ultraviolet rays after the first irradiation with polarized light, the reaction rate of the reactive group is increased (post-curing), the adhesion and the like are improved, and production can be performed at a high transport speed. Post-curing may be polarized or non-polarized, but is preferably polarized. Moreover, it is preferable to carry out post-curing twice or more, and polarized light or non-polarized light may be combined with polarized light and non-polarized light. However, when combined, it is preferable to irradiate polarized light before non-polarized light. Irradiation with ultraviolet rays may or may not be replaced with an inert gas. However, particularly when a radical polymerization initiator is used as the polymerization initiator, it is preferably performed in an inert gas atmosphere having an oxygen concentration of 0.5% or less. The irradiation energy is preferably ^{20mJ / cm 2 ~10J / cm 2} , further preferably 100 to 800 mJ / cm ^2. The illuminance is preferably 20 to 1000 mW / cm ^2, more preferably 50 to 500 mW / cm ^2, further preferably 100 to 350 mW / cm ^2. In the case of polarized light irradiation, the irradiation wavelength preferably has a peak at 300 to 450 nm, and more preferably 350 to 400 nm. In the case of non-polarized light irradiation, it preferably has a peak at 200 to 450 nm, and more preferably has a peak at 250 to 400 nm.

  It is also preferable that the liquid crystal compound has two or more reactive groups having different polymerization conditions. In this case, it is possible to produce a retardation layer containing a polymer having an unreacted reactive group by selecting conditions and polymerizing only a part of a plurality of types of reactive groups. Polymerization particularly suitable when a liquid crystalline compound having a radical reactive group and a cationic reactive group (for example, the aforementioned I-22 to I-25) is used as such a liquid crystalline compound. The immobilization conditions will be described below.

  First, as the polymerization initiator, it is preferable to use only a photopolymerization initiator that acts on a reactive group intended to be polymerized. That is, it is preferable to use only a radical photopolymerization initiator when selectively polymerizing radical reactive groups and only a cationic photopolymerization initiator when selectively polymerizing cationic reactive groups. The amount of the photopolymerization initiator used is preferably 0.01 to 20% by mass, more preferably 0.1 to 8% by mass, and 0.5 to 4% by mass of the solid content of the coating solution. It is particularly preferred.

Next, it is preferable to use ultraviolet rays for light irradiation for polymerization. At this time, if the irradiation energy and / or illuminance is too strong, both the radical reactive group and the cationic reactive group may react non-selectively. Accordingly, the irradiation energy is preferably ^{5mJ / cm 2 ~500mJ / cm 2} , more preferably 10 to 400 mJ / cm ^2, and particularly preferably ^{20mJ / cm 2 ~200mJ / cm 2} . The illuminance is preferably 5 to 500 mW / cm ^2, more preferably 10 to 300 mW / cm ^2, and particularly preferably 20 to 100 mW / cm ^2. The irradiation wavelength preferably has a peak at 250 to 450 nm, and more preferably has a peak at 300 to 410 nm.

  Of the photopolymerization reactions, reactions using radical photopolymerization initiators are inhibited by oxygen, and reactions using cationic photopolymerization initiators are not inhibited by oxygen. Therefore, when a liquid crystal compound having a radical reactive group and a cationic reactive group is used as the liquid crystalline compound and one kind of the reactive group is selectively polymerized, the radical reactive group is selectively polymerized. In some cases, it is preferable to perform light irradiation in an inert gas atmosphere such as nitrogen, and in the case of selectively polymerizing a cationic reactive group, light irradiation is performed under an oxygen-containing atmosphere (for example, in the air). It is preferable.

  An alignment layer is preferably used for forming the retardation layer. Since the alignment layer functions to define the alignment direction of the liquid crystal compound provided thereon, the patterning retardation layer can be easily obtained by patterning the function of the alignment film. In general, the alignment layer can be provided on a support or temporary support described later or on an undercoat layer coated on the support or temporary support. The alignment layer may be any layer as long as it can impart alignment to the retardation layer, and typical examples include a photo alignment layer and a rubbing alignment layer.

  The rubbing alignment film can be formed by subjecting a film mainly composed of polyvinyl alcohol or polyimide to rubbing treatment.

  As a photo-alignment material used for a photo-alignment film formed by light irradiation, there are many literatures and the like. In the alignment film of the present invention, for example, JP 2006-285197 A, JP 2007-76839 A, JP 2007-138138 A, JP 2007-94071 A, JP 2007-121721 A, The azo compounds described in JP 2007-140465 A, JP 2007-156439 A, JP 2007-133184 A, JP 2009-109831 A, Patent No. 3888848, and Japanese Patent No. 4151746, No. 229039, a maleimide and / or alkenyl-substituted nadiimide compound having a photoalignment unit described in JP-A No. 2002-265541 and JP-A No. 2002-317013, Japanese Patent No. 4205195, Patent Photocrosslinking property described in No. 4205198 Run derivatives, Kohyo 2003-520878, JP-T-2004-529220 and JP-mentioned as examples photocrosslinkable polyimide, polyamide, or an ester are preferred according to Patent No. 4,162,850. Particularly preferred are azo compounds, photocrosslinkable polyimides, polyamides, or esters.

The photo-alignment film formed from the above material is irradiated with linearly polarized light or non-polarized light to produce a photo-alignment film.
In this specification, “linearly polarized light irradiation” is an operation for causing a photoreaction in the photo-alignment material. The wavelength of light used varies depending on the photo-alignment material used, and is not particularly limited as long as it is a wavelength necessary for the photoreaction. Preferably, the peak wavelength of light used for light irradiation is 200 nm to 700 nm, more preferably ultraviolet light having a peak wavelength of light of 400 nm or less.

  The light source used for light irradiation is a commonly used light source such as a tungsten lamp, a halogen lamp, a xenon lamp, a xenon flash lamp, a mercury lamp, a mercury xenon lamp, a carbon arc lamp, or various lasers (eg, semiconductor laser, helium). Neon laser, argon ion laser, helium cadmium laser, YAG laser), light emitting diode, cathode ray tube, and the like.

  As means for obtaining linearly polarized light, a method using a polarizing plate (eg, iodine polarizing plate, dichroic dye polarizing plate, wire grid polarizing plate), reflection using a prism-based element (eg, Glan-Thompson prism) or Brewster angle A method using a type polarizer or a method using light emitted from a laser light source having polarization can be employed. Moreover, you may selectively irradiate only the light of the required wavelength using a filter, a wavelength conversion element, etc.

  The irradiation time is preferably 1 minute to 60 minutes, more preferably 1 minute to 10 minutes.

  In order to obtain a patterned photo-alignment layer, a film made of a photo-alignment material is subjected to pattern exposure. For pattern exposure, it is preferable to use an exposure mask having a light shielding portion and a light transmitting portion. For example, exposure can be performed using exposure masks A and B as shown in FIG. Alternatively, direct drawing may be performed by focusing on a predetermined position without using a mask using a laser or an electron beam.

An exemplary flow of a method for forming a patterned retardation layer that can be used in the present invention is schematically shown in FIG.
First, a support 27 such as a polyimide film is prepared (FIG. 5A). An alignment film material is applied thereon to form an alignment film 28 (FIG. 5B). The alignment film 28 may be a rubbing alignment film or a photo-alignment film. In addition, a release layer may be formed between the support 27 and the alignment film 28 in order to improve the peelability. The alignment film 28 is subjected to a treatment for expressing the alignment regulating force (for example, rubbing treatment or irradiation with linearly polarized light) as desired, and then two different reactive groups (for example, an oxetanyl group and a polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated group) are added. The coating liquid of the curable liquid crystalline composition containing the liquid crystal compound to have is apply | coated, and coating-film 20 'is formed (FIG.5 (c)). After the solvent is removed from the coating film 20 ′ and the film is in a predetermined alignment state, only the reaction of one reactive group is allowed to proceed by irradiating ultraviolet rays, the state is fixed, and the pre-retardation layer 20 ″ is formed. It forms (FIG.5 (d)).

  Next, a composition containing a polymerization initiator capable of initiating polymerization of the other reactive group is applied to the surface of the pre-retardation layer 20 ″ to form a polymerization initiator supply layer 29 (FIG. 5). (E)) The polymerization initiator in the polymerization initiator supply layer 29 is configured to be movable to the pre-retardation layer 20 ″ disposed therebelow. Next, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, ultraviolet rays are passed through an exposure mask in which a portion corresponding to the first domain 20x is a light shielding portion and a portion corresponding to the second domain 20y is a light transmission portion. , Only the light transmission part is exposed. By exposure in the presence of a polymerization initiator that has permeated from the polymerization initiator supply layer 29, the reaction of the other reactive group of the liquid crystal compound in the exposed portion proceeds, and the alignment state of the light transmitting portion becomes strong. Fixed. The exposed portion becomes the second domain 20y in which the liquid crystal compound is fixed in a predetermined alignment state and the in-plane retardation is ½ wavelength. On the other hand, in the liquid crystal compound in the light-shielding part that has not been exposed, the reaction of one reactive group proceeds by the first exposure, but the other reactive group remains unreacted. Therefore, when heated to a temperature that exceeds the isotropic phase temperature and allows the reaction of the other reactive group to proceed, the light-shielding portion is fixed in the isotropic phase state, that is, the first in-plane retardation is 0 nm. A domain is formed. In this way, a patterned retardation layer 20 is formed (FIG. 5F).

  In the laminate including the patterned retardation layer formed in this way, the surface of the polymerization initiator supply layer contained in the laminate is protected via the adhesive layer in the first laminate. It can be incorporated by bonding to the surface of the layer. Thereafter, the support 27 may be removed if possible. Alternatively, the surface of the polymerization initiator supply layer can be bonded to a linearly polarizing layer or a protective layer thereof described later via an adhesive layer. Then, the back surface of the support body 27 and the surface of the protective layer included in the first laminate can be bonded and incorporated. As shown in FIG. 6B, when pasting, the absorption axis a of the dichroic image included in the first laminate and the absorption axis b of the dichroic image included in the second laminate. And the in-plane slow axis y of the second domain of the retardation layer are crossed at 45 ° and bonded together.

Linear polarizing layer:
The three-dimensional image printed matter of the present invention has a linearly polarizing layer on the observer-side surface of the patterned retardation layer. The linearly polarizing layer is not particularly limited as long as it is a layer that linearly polarizes light that vibrates in an arbitrary direction such as natural light, and may be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. The single layer transmittance of the polarizing layer is preferably 30% or more, more preferably 35% or more, and particularly preferably 40% or more. If the single-layer transmittance of the polarizing layer is less than 30%, the light utilization efficiency is significantly reduced. Further, the order parameter of the polarizing layer is preferably 0.7 or more, more preferably 0.8 or more, and particularly preferably 0.9 or more. If the order parameter of the polarizing layer is less than 0.7, the light use efficiency is significantly reduced. The optical density of the absorption axis of the polarizing layer is preferably 1 or more, more preferably 1.5 or more, and particularly preferably 2 or more. If the optical density of the absorption axis of the polarizing layer is less than 1, the degree of polarization is greatly reduced, and a crosstalk or ghost image can be seen. The wavelength band of the polarizing layer preferably covers 400 nm to 800 nm from the viewpoint of converting visible light into polarized light. The thickness of the polarizing layer is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected according to the purpose. However, it is 0.01 to 2 μm in terms of exhibiting optical characteristics, not generating parallax, and easy to manufacture. It is preferable that the thickness is 0.05 to 2 μm.

There is no restriction | limiting about the material and its preparation method about the said linearly polarizing layer. For example, an iodine polarizing plate, a dye polarizing plate using a dichroic dye, a polyene polarizing plate, and the like are preferable. Of these, iodine-based polarizing plates and dye-based polarizing plates can be produced by generally stretching a polyvinyl alcohol-based film and adsorbing iodine or a dichroic dye thereto. In this case, the transmission axis of the polarizing layer is a direction perpendicular to the stretching direction of the film.
In addition to these stretch-type polarizing plates, the following linearly polarizing films are also preferably used as the linearly polarizing layer in the present invention from the viewpoint of a relatively high degree of polarization. For example, a linear polarizing plate using a polymerizable cholesteric liquid crystal described in JP-A-2000-352611, JP-A-11-101964, JP-A-2006-161051, JP-A-2007-199237, JP-T-2002. No. -5,786, No. 2006-525382, No. 2007-536415, No. 2008-547062, No. 3335173, and a uniaxially oriented liquid crystal containing the dichroic dye described in Japanese Patent No. 3335173. A guest-host type linear polarizing plate, a wire grid polarizing plate using a metal grid such as aluminum described in JP-A-55-95981, and carbon nanotubes described in JP-A-2002-365427 were dispersed and arranged. Polarizing plate made of polymer compound or liquid crystal compound, JP-A-2006-184 A polarizing plate made of a polymer compound in which metal fine particles described in JP-A No. 24 are dispersed and arranged, JP-A No. 11-248937, JP-A No. 10-508123, JP-A No. 2005-522726, JP-A No. 2005 No. 522727, JP-A-2006-522365, polyvinylene type linear polarizing plate, JP-A-7-261024, JP-A-8-286029, JP-A-2002-180052, JP-A-2002-90526 JP, JP-A 2002-357720, JP-A 2005-154746, JP-A 2006-47966, JP-A 2006-48078, JP-A 2006-98927, JP-A 2006-193722. JP, 2006-206878, JP, 2006-215396, JP 2006-225671 A, JP 2006-328157 A, JP 2007-126628 A, JP 2007-133184 A, JP 2007-145959 A, JP 2007-186428 A, 2007. -199333, JP 2007-291246, JP 2007-302807, JP 2008-9417, JP 2002-515075, JP 2006-518871, 2006-508034. Polarized light composed of a lyotropic liquid crystalline dye represented by (chromogen) (SO ₃ M) _{n and the} like described in JP-A No. 2006-531366, JP-T 2006-526013, and JP-T 2007-512236. Plate, JP-A-8-278409, JP-A-11 A preferred example is a polarizing plate comprising a dichroic dye described in Japanese Patent No. -305036. Cholesteric liquid crystals usually have a circularly polarized light separation function, but can be made into a linearly polarizing plate by combination with a quarter wavelength layer. In this case, the quarter wavelength layer is preferably formed from a composition containing at least one liquid crystal compound, and the composition containing at least one liquid crystal compound having a polymerizable group is used as a liquid crystal phase. Then, it is preferably a layer formed by curing by supplying heat and / or irradiating with ultraviolet rays. From the viewpoint of the degree of polarization, an iodine polarizing plate, a dye polarizing plate using a dichroic dye, a polarizing plate made of a lyotropic liquid crystalline dye, and a polarizing plate made of a dichroic dye are preferable.

  Among these, in the present invention, the linearly polarizing layer is preferably a coating type linearly polarizing layer formed by applying a liquid crystalline composition containing a dichroic dye, so that the thickness can be reduced. For the formation of the coating-type linearly polarizing layer, it is preferable to form it from a liquid crystalline composition containing a dichroic dye. Preferred examples of the dichroic dye include two colors used for forming the dichroic image. This is the same as the example of the sex dye.

  When laminating the linear polarizing layer, the linear polarization layer is made to coincide with either the absorption axis of the dichroic image contained in the first laminate or the absorption axis of the dichroic image contained in the second laminate. Paste.

  The linearly polarizing layer may have protective layers made of a polymer film such as a cellulose acetate film on both sides. The polymer film that can be used for the protective layer is preferably low retardation or optically isotropic, and the preferred optical property range is the optical property of the protective layer contained in the first and second laminates. The same applies to examples of preferable polymer films.

In FIG. 7, the cross-sectional schematic diagram of other embodiment of the stereo image printed material of this invention is shown. The same members as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
The three-dimensional image print 10 ′ shown in FIG. 7 includes oxygen barrier layers 23a and 23b in which protective layers 18a ′ and 18b ′ included in the first and second laminates 19a ′ and 19b ′ are formed by coating, and It consists of transparent resin cured layers 24a and 24b, respectively. The oxygen blocking layers 23a and 23b are layers having an oxygen blocking ability that prevent oxygen from entering the image layers 16a and 16b and degrading or fading the dichroic dye or the like. Further, the transparent resin cured layers 24a and 24b are arranged for improving the physical strength and durability of the stereoscopic image printed matter or for imparting optical properties. The oxygen blocking layers 23a and 23b may also be used as intermediate layers that contribute to preventing mixing of components between layers during application and storage after application. The intermediate layer is described as “separation layer” in JP-A-5-72724 and can be referred to.

The oxygen barrier layer preferably exhibits low oxygen permeability and is dispersed or dissolved in water or an aqueous alkali solution, and can be appropriately selected from known ones. Among these, a film formed from a component mainly composed of polyvinyl alcohol is particularly preferable. Among these, a film formed from a composition containing polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl pyrrolidone is preferable.
The thickness of the oxygen blocking layer is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 10 μm, and particularly preferably 0.5 to 5 μm.

Transparent resin cured layer:
The layer thickness of the transparent resin cured layer is preferably in the range of 1 to 30 μm, and particularly preferably 1 to 10 μm.
The transparent resin cured layer is preferably formed by a crosslinking reaction or a polymerization reaction of an ionizing radiation curable compound. The transparent resin cured layer in the present invention is obtained by applying a composition containing an ionizing radiation curable polyfunctional monomer or polyfunctional oligomer to the surface of a dichroic dye layer or an oxygen blocking layer, and applying the polyfunctional monomer or polyfunctional oligomer. It can be formed by a crosslinking reaction or a polymerization reaction.
The functional group of the ionizing radiation curable polyfunctional monomer or polyfunctional oligomer is preferably a light, electron beam, or radiation polymerizable group, and among them, a photopolymerizable functional group is preferable.
Examples of the photopolymerizable functional group include unsaturated polymerizable functional groups such as a (meth) acryloyl group, a vinyl group, a styryl group, and an allyl group. Among them, a (meth) acryloyl group is preferable. Moreover, inorganic fine particles can also be contained.

As a specific example of a photopolymerizable polyfunctional monomer having a photopolymerizable functional group,
(Meth) acrylic acid diesters of alkylene glycol such as neopentyl glycol acrylate, 1,6-hexanediol (meth) acrylate, propylene glycol di (meth) acrylate;
(Meth) acrylic acid diesters of polyoxyalkylene glycols such as triethylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, dipropylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, polyethylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, polypropylene glycol di (meth) acrylate;
(Meth) acrylic acid diesters of polyhydric alcohols such as pentaerythritol di (meth) acrylate;
(Meth) acrylic acid diesters of ethylene oxide or propylene oxide adducts such as 2,2-bis {4- (acryloxy · diethoxy) phenyl} propane and 2-bis {4- (acryloxy · polypropoxy) phenyl} propane ;
Etc.

  Furthermore, epoxy (meth) acrylates, urethane (meth) acrylates, and polyester (meth) acrylates are also preferably used as the photopolymerizable polyfunctional monomer.

  Among these, esters of polyhydric alcohol and (meth) acrylic acid are preferable. More preferably, a polyfunctional monomer having 3 or more (meth) acryloyl groups in one molecule is preferable. Specifically, trimethylolpropane tri (meth) acrylate, trimethylolethane tri (meth) acrylate, 1,2,4-cyclohexanetetra (meth) acrylate, pentaglycerol triacrylate, pentaerythritol tetra (meth) acrylate, penta Erythritol tri (meth) acrylate, dipentaerythritol triacrylate, dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate, dipentaerythritol tetra (meth) acrylate, dipentaerythritol hexa (meth) acrylate, tripentaerythritol triacrylate, tripentaerythritol hexatriacrylate, etc. Is mentioned. Two or more polyfunctional monomers may be used in combination.

In the curing reaction of the composition, a polymerization initiator is preferably used, and a photopolymerization initiator is preferably used. As the photopolymerization initiator, a photoradical polymerization initiator and a photocationic polymerization initiator are preferable, and a photoradical polymerization initiator is particularly preferable.
Examples of the photoradical polymerization initiator include acetophenones, benzophenones, Michler's benzoylbenzoate, α-amyloxime ester, tetramethylthiuram monosulfide, and thioxanthones.

  As a commercially available radical photopolymerization initiator, Kayacure (DETX-S, BP-100, BDMK, CTX, BMS, 2-EAQ, ABQ, CPTX, EPD, ITX, QTX, BTC, manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd. MCA, all of which are trade names), Irgacure (651, 184, 127, 500, 907, 369, 1173, 2959, 4265, 4263, etc., all of which are trade names) manufactured by Ciba Specialty Chemicals Co., Ltd., Sartomer Examples include Esacure (KIP100F, KB1, EB3, BP, X33, KT046, KT37, KIP150, TZT, all of which are trade names).

In particular, photocleavable photoradical polymerization initiators are preferred. The photocleavable photoradical polymerization initiator is described in the latest UV curing technology (P.159, issuer; Kazuhiro Takasawa, publisher; Technical Information Association, published in 1991).
Examples of commercially available photocleavable photoradical polymerization initiators include Irgacure (651, 184, 127, 907, trade names) manufactured by Ciba Specialty Chemicals.

It is preferable to use a photoinitiator in the range of 0.1-15 mass parts with respect to 100 mass parts of curable resin, More preferably, it is the range of 1-10 mass parts.
In addition to the photopolymerization initiator, a photosensitizer may be used. Specific examples of the photosensitizer include n-butylamine, triethylamine, tri-n-butylphosphine, Michler's ketone and thioxanthone.
Examples of commercially available photosensitizers include KAYACURE (DMBI, EPA, both trade names) manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.
The photopolymerization reaction is preferably carried out by UV irradiation after application and drying of the transparent resin cured layer.

In order to impart brittleness, the transparent resin cured layer may be added with an oligomer or polymer having a mass average molecular weight of 500 or more, or both.
Examples of the oligomer and polymer include (meth) acrylate-based, cellulose-based, and styrene-based polymers, urethane acrylate, and polyester acrylate. Preferable examples include poly (glycidyl (meth) acrylate) and poly (allyl (meth) acrylate) having a functional group in the side chain.

  The total amount of oligomer and polymer in the transparent resin cured layer is preferably 5 to 80% by mass, more preferably 25 to 70% by mass, and particularly preferably 35 to 65% by mass with respect to the total mass of the resin layer. is there.

The strength of the transparent resin cured layer is preferably H or higher, more preferably 2H or higher, and most preferably 3H or higher in a pencil hardness test according to JIS K5400.
Further, in the Taber test according to JIS K7204, the smaller the amount of wear of the test piece before and after the test, the better.
In the formation of the transparent resin cured layer, when the ionizing radiation curable compound is formed by a crosslinking reaction or a polymerization reaction, the crosslinking reaction or the polymerization reaction is preferably performed in an atmosphere having an oxygen concentration of 10% by volume or less. . By forming in an atmosphere having an oxygen concentration of 10% by volume or less, a transparent resin cured layer excellent in physical strength and durability can be formed, which is preferable.
Preferably, it is formed by a crosslinking reaction or polymerization reaction of an ionizing radiation curable compound in an atmosphere having an oxygen concentration of 6% by volume or less, more preferably an oxygen concentration of 4% by volume or less, particularly preferably an oxygen concentration of 2 Volume% or less, most preferably 1 volume% or less.

As a method of reducing the oxygen concentration to 10% by volume or less, it is preferable to replace the atmosphere (nitrogen concentration of about 79% by volume, oxygen concentration of about 21% by volume) with another gas, particularly preferably replacement with nitrogen (nitrogen purge). It is to be.
The transparent resin cured layer is preferably constructed by applying a coating composition for forming a transparent resin cured layer on the surface of the dichroic dye layer.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the protective layer may include two or more functional layers such as an oxygen blocking layer and a transparent resin cured layer, but is included in the first laminate 19a ′ on the viewer side. As a whole, the protective layer 18a ′ needs to have an in-plane retardation value (Re) of 10 nm or less with respect to visible light, preferably 0 to 5 nm, and particularly preferably 0 to 3 nm. The same applies to the embodiment of FIG. 8 described later.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of another example of the stereoscopic image printed matter of the present invention.
The stereoscopic image printed matter shown in FIG. 8 is an aspect in which the non-polarization-reducing reflective layer 26 is disposed on the back surface of the second laminate 19b ′ on the back surface of the stereoscopic image printed matter shown in FIG. In this aspect, a stereoscopic image can be observed by reflected light of external light.

Reflective layer:
As the non-depolarizing reflective layer that can be used in this embodiment, for example, a paper coated with a metal thin film, a metal thin film mirror, a metal foil, or a metal flake suspended in plastic is preferable.

2. The manufacturing method of a three-dimensional image printed matter TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates also to the manufacturing method of the three-dimensional image printed matter of this invention.
The method for producing a stereoscopic image printed matter of the present invention includes:
A dichroic dye composition containing at least an organic solvent and at least one dichroic dye dissolved in the organic solvent, on the surface and the back surface of the transparent support, simultaneously or separately, Coating each of the right eye pixels in a predetermined arrangement in a dichroic image manner (step a); and evaporating the organic solvent in the composition to spontaneously apply the at least one dichroic dye. Or horizontally following (step b);
It is the manufacturing method of the stereo image printed matter of this invention containing at least. About each process

  First, a photographic paper having an image receiving layer (for example, an alignment film) on both surfaces of the transparent support is prepared. FIG. 9 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of photographic paper. The photographic paper has a transparent support 12 and image receiving layers 14a and 14b on both sides thereof. The preferred embodiments of the transparent support and the image receiving layer are as described above.

Step a:
In the method of the present invention, for forming an image, a dichroic dye composition containing at least an organic solvent and at least one dichroic dye dissolved in the organic solvent is used. A dichroic image is formed by applying the composition to an image receiving layer disposed on the back surface and the front surface of a transparent support, respectively, in an image-like manner including left eye pixels and right eye pixels in a predetermined arrangement. Form. The application may be carried out by any method, but the ink jet method is suitable for an aspect in which the image is applied to the photographic paper based on the digitized image data. An example using the inkjet method is as follows:

First, image data is digitized by the image data processing apparatus as left-eye image data and right-eye image data having parallax. Examples of digitized image data include data of an image taken with a digital camera, more specifically, digital data such as an image taken with a digital camera having two left and right imaging lenses. In the image data processing device, the left-eye image data and the right-eye image data are each decomposed into a predetermined pattern (for example, a stripe pattern), and the left-eye pixels and the right-eye pixels are mixed and arranged in a predetermined pattern. Thus, image data is generated. In the inkjet apparatus connected to the image data processing apparatus, the dichroic dye composition is stored in an ink dispenser, and the composition is transferred from the inkjet head according to a digital signal transmitted from the image data processing apparatus. Is controlled to discharge. The composition discharged from the ink jet head lands on a predetermined position of the image receiving layer of the photographic paper that is positioned and supported, thereby forming a dichroic image.
Note that the image formation on the image receiving layer may be performed simultaneously or separately, and the mechanism of the ink jet apparatus will be adjusted to suit each mode.

  The temperature at the time of application of the dichroic composition is preferably 0 ° C. or higher and 80 ° C. or lower, and the humidity is preferably about 10% RH or higher and 80% RH or lower. Within this range, it is preferable because the coating solution does not dry before landing on the surface of the alignment film and uniform coating is possible.

  Further, when each of the dichroic dyes is applied to the image receiving layer (for example, an alignment film) imagewise, the photographic paper may be heated or cooled. In an embodiment in which the image receiving layer of the photographic paper at this time is an alignment film, the temperature of the alignment film is preferably 10 ° C. or more and 60 ° C. or less. If the upper limit is exceeded, the orientation may be disturbed and drying may occur, and if the lower limit is exceeded, water droplets may form on the surface of the base material and hinder application.

The dichroic dye composition contains at least an organic solvent and at least one sexual dichroic dye dissolved in the organic solvent. The dichroic dye is preferably liquid crystalline. Preferred examples of the dichroic dye are as described above. The dichroic dye composition is preferably prepared as a liquid composition so that application by an inkjet method is possible. Examples of organic solvents include amides (eg, N, N-dimethylformamide), sulfoxides (eg, dimethyl sulfoxide), heterocyclic compounds (eg, pyridine), hydrocarbons (eg, benzene, hexane), alkyl halides (eg, , Chloroform, dichloromethane), esters (eg, methyl acetate, butyl acetate), ketones (eg, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone), ethers (eg, tetrahydrofuran, 1,2-dimethoxyethane). Alkyl halides and ketones are preferred. Two or more organic solvents may be used in combination.
The viscosity of the dichroic dye composition is preferably 0.5 cP or more, more preferably 1 cP or more, further preferably 5 cP or more, and particularly preferably 10 cP or more. The surface tension of the composition is preferably 20 dyn / cm or more, more preferably 25 dyn / cm or more, and further preferably 30 dyn / cm or more.

  Moreover, 1-20 mass% is preferable, as for content of the total solid in the said dichroic dye composition, 1-10 mass% is more preferable, and 1-5 mass% is further more preferable.

Step b:
Next, the organic solution is evaporated from the composition applied to the image receiving layer (for example, an alignment film) by inkjet coating or the like, whereby the at least one dichroic dye is horizontally or spontaneously horizontal. By orientation, a dichroic image is formed. For example, in the embodiment in which the image receiving layer is an alignment film, the dichroic dye is spontaneously horizontally aligned on the surface of the alignment film according to the alignment axis of the alignment film, or in the embodiment in which the image receiving layer is a molecular alignment film. The dichroic dye is permeated into the molecular alignment film, and the dichroic dye molecules are horizontally aligned following the molecular alignment of the film to form a dichroic image. At the time of drying, it is preferable not to disturb the alignment state of the dye molecules (avoid thermal relaxation or the like). From this viewpoint, the drying temperature is preferably room temperature, that is, it is preferable to dry naturally. On the other hand, at the time of drying, the photographic paper may be heated in order to promote the molecular orientation of the dichroic dye. The temperature of the photographic paper at this time is preferably 50 ° C to 200 ° C, particularly preferably 70 ° C to 180 ° C. In order to lower the orientation temperature, an additive such as a plasticizer may be added to the composition.

  In this step, the molecules of the dichroic dye are horizontally aligned. For example, in an embodiment in which the image receiving layer is an alignment film, an alignment film having alignment axes in the directions of −45 ° and + 45 °, respectively, and an angle of 90 ° can be used. In an embodiment in which is a molecular alignment film, for example, molecular alignment films that are stretched in directions of −45 ° and + 45 °, respectively, and the molecular alignment directions form an angle of 90 ° with each other can be used. In the aspect in which the molecule of the dichroic dye has an absorption axis in the major axis direction and the major axis is aligned in parallel with the orientation axis of the alignment film or the molecular orientation direction of the molecular orientation film, one image receiving layer has A dichroic image having an absorption axis in the −45 ° direction is formed, and a dichroic image having an absorption axis in the + 45 ° direction is formed on the other image receiving layer.

  In the step b, the dichroic dye molecules are preferably horizontally oriented with respect to the layer surface of the image receiving layer. The liquid crystal phase in the alignment state may be a nematic phase, a smectic phase, or an intermediate thereof.

  After the step b, a step of forming a protective layer on each of the dichroic images can be performed. The protective layer may be formed by coating, or a polymer film may be bonded. Furthermore, after the said process, the process of arrange | positioning the patterned retardation layer and linearly polarizing layer on the surface of the protective layer by the side of an observer can be implemented. The method for forming the patterned retardation layer and the method for bonding the retardation layer and the linearly polarizing layer are as described above.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on examples. The materials, amounts used, ratios, processing details, processing procedures, and the like shown in the following examples can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited by the following examples.

1. Example 1
[Production of photographic paper for stereoscopic images]
(Preparation of transparent support)
Each component of the following cellulose acetate solution composition was put into a mixing tank, stirred while heating to dissolve each component, and a cellulose acetate solution was prepared and used as a dope.
(Cellulose acetate solution composition)
Cellulose acetate having an acetylation degree of 60.9% 100 parts by weight Triphenyl phosphate (plasticizer) 7.8 parts by weight Biphenyl diphenyl phosphate (plasticizer) 3.9 parts by weight Methylene chloride (first solvent) 318 parts by weight Methanol (No. 2 solvents) 47 parts by mass

The obtained dope was cast using a band casting machine. A cellulose acetate film (thickness: 92 μm) was produced by transversely stretching a film having a residual solvent amount of 15% by mass at a stretching ratio of 15% by free end uniaxial stretching at 150 ° C.
About the produced cellulose acetate film, Re value in 550 nm was measured by injecting light of 550 nm in the film normal direction in KOBRA 21ADH (brand name, Oji Scientific Instruments Co., Ltd. product). The Re value was 7 nm.

(Preparation of rubbing alignment film)
A 4% aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol “PVA103” manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd. was applied to each of the front and back surfaces of the cellulose acetate film with a No. 12 bar and dried at 80 ° C. for 5 minutes. Thereafter, rubbing treatment was performed in the directions shown in FIG. 3 (± 45 °) so as to make three reciprocations at 400 rpm and orthogonally cross on the front and back surfaces, thereby producing stereoscopic image printing paper. On the prepared alignment film, the liquid crystalline molecules are horizontally aligned with their long axes coinciding with the rubbing axes.

  In this way, a photographic paper having the structure shown in FIG. 9 was produced. That is, a photographic paper having a transparent support 12 made of a cellulose acetate film and alignment films 14a and 14b on both sides thereof was produced.

[Preparation of stereoscopic image ink]
(Preparation of dichroic dye composition)
The following composition was dissolved by stirring to obtain a stereoscopic image ink. The viscosity of the yellow ink, magenta ink, and cyan ink was 0.6 cP, and the surface tension was 30 dyn / cm.
(Yellow ink for stereoscopic images)
Yellow azo dye A2-3 having the following structure (compound of general formula (II)) 1 part by mass Chloroform (solvent) 99 parts by mass (magenta ink for stereoscopic image)
Magentaazo dye C-9 having the following structure (compound of general formula (I)) 1 part by mass Chloroform (solvent) 99 parts by mass (cyan ink for stereoscopic image)
Cyanazo dye A3-1 having the following structure (compound of general formula (III)) 0.87 parts by mass Cyan squarylium dye VI-5 having the following structure 0.13 parts by mass Chloroform (solvent) 99 parts by mass

[Production of 3D image printed matter]
(Preparation of dichroic dye layer)
The right-eye data and left-eye data photographed by a digital camera equipped with two right and left photographing lenses are converted into digital data, respectively, and then the obtained stereoscopic image ink is a piezo-type inkjet head. Was used to deposit droplets on the rubbing alignment film. Divide the right-eye pixels and left-eye pixels into the same fixed stripes, so that the right-eye pixels and the left-eye pixels are alternately adjacent to each other on the front and back printing surfaces, and corresponding positions on the front and back sides. The image was constructed by overlapping the right-eye pixels and the left-eye pixels. The alignment state was fixed by solvent drying at room temperature to form dichroic images. The gradation corresponding to the image data was controlled by controlling the ink ejection amount and density. The orientation directions of the front and back dichroic images were orthogonal, and both were horizontally oriented within a range of ± 1 °. The thickness of the dichroic dye layers on the front and back surfaces was 1 μm.

(Dichroic ratio measurement of dichroic dye layer)
A dichroic dye layer fixed under the same conditions using the same ink as described above was separately formed, and the dichroic ratio was measured.
The dichroic ratio was calculated by the following equation after measuring the absorbance of the dichroic dye layer with a spectrophotometer in which an iodine polarizing element was arranged in the incident optical system.
Dichroic ratio (D) = Az / Ay
Az: Absorbance with respect to polarized light in the absorption axis direction of the light absorption anisotropic film Ay: Absorbance with respect to polarization in the polarization axis direction of the light absorption anisotropic film Table 1 shows the measurement results.

(Preparation of coating solution for oxygen barrier layer)
The following composition was charged into a mixing tank and stirred to obtain an oxygen barrier layer coating solution.
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA205 (trade name, manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) 3.2 parts by mass, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP K-30 (trade name, manufactured by Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.) 1.5 parts by mass, methanol 44 parts by mass, water) After adding 56 parts by mass, the mixture was filtered through a polypropylene filter having a pore size of 0.4 μm to prepare an oxygen barrier layer coating solution.
(Preparation of oxygen barrier layer)
The oxygen barrier layer coating solution was applied to the upper layer of each of the dichroic dye layers on the front and back surfaces described above, and dried at 100 ° C. for 2 minutes to prepare an oxygen barrier layer. The thickness of the oxygen barrier layer was 1 μm.

(Preparation of coating solution for transparent resin cured layer)
The following composition was put into a mixing tank and stirred to obtain a transparent resin cured layer coating solution.
7.5 parts by mass of trimethylolpropane triacrylate (Biscoat # 295 (trade name, manufactured by Osaka Organic Chemical Co., Ltd.)), 2.7 parts by mass of poly (glycidyl methacrylate) having a mass average molecular weight of 15000, and 7.3 parts by mass of methyl ethyl ketone Then, 5.0 parts by mass of cyclohexanone and 0.5 parts by mass of a photopolymerization initiator (Irgacure 184 (trade name), manufactured by Ciba Specialty Chemicals Co., Ltd.) were added and stirred. And a coating solution for a transparent resin cured layer was prepared.

(Preparation of transparent resin cured layer)
The above-described coating solution for transparent resin cured layer was applied to the upper surface of each of the oxygen barrier layer on the front surface and the back surface, and dried at 100 ° C. for 2 minutes. Thereafter, it is polymerized by irradiating with 5 J ultraviolet rays in an atmosphere of nitrogen (oxygen concentration of 100 ppm or less), and an oxygen blocking layer having a thickness of 1 μm and a transparent layer having a thickness of 2 μm on the surface of the dichroic dye layer (layer thickness: 1.0 μm) A three-dimensional image printed material in which resin cured layers were sequentially laminated was produced. Re = 0 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm of the transparent resin cured layer. Moreover, it was H when the pencil hardness measurement was implemented according to JISK5400.

(Preparation of protective layer)
The following composition was put into a mixing tank and stirred while heating to dissolve each component to prepare a cellulose acylate solution A.

<Composition of cellulose acylate solution A>
Cellulose acetate having a substitution degree of 2.86 100 parts by weight Triphenyl phosphate (plasticizer) 7.8 parts by weight Biphenyl diphenyl phosphate (plasticizer) 3.9 parts by weight Methylene chloride (first solvent) 300 parts by weight Methanol (second solvent) ) 54 parts by mass 1-butanol 11 parts by mass

  The following composition was charged into another mixing tank, stirred while heating to dissolve each component, and an additive solution B was prepared.

<Additive solution B composition>
The following compound B1 (Re reducing agent) 40 parts by mass The following compound B2 (wavelength dispersion controlling agent) 4 parts by mass Methylene chloride (first solvent) 80 parts by mass Methanol (second solvent) 20 parts by mass

<Production of cellulose acetate protective film>
A dope was prepared by adding 40 parts by mass of the additive solution B to 477 parts by mass of the cellulose acylate solution A and stirring sufficiently. The dope was cast from a casting port onto a drum cooled to 0 ° C. The film is peeled off at a solvent content of 70% by mass, and both ends in the width direction of the film are fixed with a pin tenter (a pin tenter described in FIG. 3 of JP-A-4-1009), and the solvent content is 3 to 5% by mass. Then, it was dried while maintaining an interval at which the stretching ratio in the transverse direction (direction perpendicular to the machine direction) was 3%. Then, it dried further by conveying between the rolls of a heat processing apparatus, and produced the 60-micrometer-thick cellulose acetate protective film. The front Re of the protective film was 2.0 nm.

(Production of linear polarizing layer)
The cellulose acetate protective film was immersed in an aqueous 1.5 N sodium hydroxide solution at 55 ° C. for 2 minutes. It wash | cleaned in the room temperature water-washing tub, and neutralized using 0.1 N sulfuric acid at 30 degreeC. Again, it was washed in a water bath at room temperature and further dried with hot air at 100 ° C. In this way, the surface of the cellulose acylate protective film was saponified.
Subsequently, a roll-like polyvinyl alcohol film having a thickness of 80 μm was continuously stretched 5 times in an aqueous iodine solution and dried to obtain a linearly polarizing film. Using a 3% aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol (Kuraray PVA-117H) as an adhesive, two alkali saponified cellulose acylate protective films were prepared and bonded together with a linearly polarizing film in between. A protected linearly polarizing layer was obtained. At this time, the cellulose acylate film protective films on both sides were pasted so that the slow axis of the film was parallel to the transmission axis of the linear polarizing film.

(Preparation of patterned retardation layer)
<Preparation of coating liquid AL-1 for alignment layer>
The following composition was prepared, filtered through a polypropylene filter having a pore size of 30 μm, and used as an alignment layer coating liquid AL-1.
──────────────────────────────────――
Coating liquid composition for alignment layer (%)
──────────────────────────────────――
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA205, manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) 3.21
Polyvinylpyrrolidone (Luvitec K30, manufactured by BASF) 1.48
Distilled water 52.10
Methanol 43.21
──────────────────────────────────――

<Preparation of coating liquid LC-1 for retardation layer>
After preparing the following composition, it was filtered through a polypropylene filter having a pore size of 0.2 μm and used as a coating liquid LC-1 for retardation layer.
I-22 is a liquid crystal compound having two reactive groups, one of the two reactive groups is an acrylic group which is a radical reactive group, and the other is an oxetanyl group which is a cationic reactive group.

────────────────────────────────── ――――――
Coating composition for retardation layer (%)
────────────────────────────────── ――――――
Bar-shaped liquid crystal (I-22) 32.59
Horizontal alignment agent (LC-1-2) 0.02
Cationic photopolymerization initiator (CPI100-P, manufactured by San Apro Co., Ltd.) 0.66
Polymerization control agent (IRGANOX1076, manufactured by Ciba Specialty Chemicals Co., Ltd.)
0.07
Methyl ethyl ketone 66.66
────────────────────────────────── ――――――

(Preparation of coating liquid AD-1 for radical polymerization initiator supply layer)
After the following composition was prepared, it was filtered through a polypropylene filter having a pore size of 0.2 μm and used as a coating liquid AD-1 for a radical polymerization initiator supply layer.
B-3 is a copolymer of benzyl methacrylate, methacrylic acid and methyl methacrylate and has a copolymer composition ratio (molar ratio) = 35.9 / 22.4 / 41.7 and a weight average molecular weight = 38,000.
As RPI-1, 2-trichloromethyl-5- (p-styrylstyryl) 1,3,4-oxadiazole was used.

──────────────────────────────────――
Composition of coating solution for radical polymerization initiator supply layer (% by mass)
──────────────────────────────────――
Binder (B-3) 8.05
KAYARAD DPHA (manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.) 4.83
Radical photopolymerization initiator (RPI-1) 0.12
Hydroquinone monomethyl ether 0.002
Megafuck F-176PF (Dainippon Ink Chemical Co., Ltd.) 0.05
Propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate 34.80
Methyl ethyl ketone 50.538
Methanol 1.61
──────────────────────────────────――

<Preparation of patterned retardation layer>
The alignment layer coating solution AL-1 was applied and dried on a polyimide film support having a front surface Re of 0 nm and a thickness of 100 μm using a wire bar. The dry film thickness was 1.6 μm. Next, the coating liquid LC-1 for retardation layer was applied using a wire bar, dried at a film surface temperature of 90 ° C. for 2 minutes to form a liquid crystal phase, and then a 160 W / cm air-cooled metal halide lamp (eye A phase difference layer having a thickness of 3.2 μm was formed by fixing the alignment state by irradiating with ultraviolet rays using Graphics Co., Ltd. The illuminance of ultraviolet rays used at this time was 100 mW / cm ² in the UV-A region (integration of wavelengths from 320 nm to 400 nm), and the irradiation amount was 80 mJ / cm ² in the UV-A region. Furthermore, after applying coating liquid AD-1 for radical polymerization initiator supply layer on the phase difference layer and drying to form a 1.2 μm radical polymerization initiator supply layer, Mikasa M-3L exposure apparatus and photo Pattern exposure was performed using the mask I at an exposure amount of 50 mJ / cm ² . Thereafter, the unexposed portion was thermally fixed in an isotropic phase by baking in a clean oven at 230 ° C. for 1 hour, and a patterned ½ wavelength layer was produced. In the patterned half-wave layer, the in-plane retardation of the exposed portion at a measurement wavelength of 550 nm was 275 nm (1/2 wavelength), and the in-plane retardation of the unexposed portion was 0 nm.

(Preparation of stereoscopic image printed matter)
<Lamination of patterned retardation layer and linear polarizing layer>
An adhesive sheet was attached to the initiator layer side of the patterned retardation layer and bonded to the linearly polarizing layer. At this time, it was pasted so that the in-plane slow axis of the second domain of the retardation layer forms an angle of 45 ° with the transmission axis of the linearly polarizing layer.

<Stereoscopic image printed matter>
An adhesive sheet was attached to the polyimide film side of the patterned retardation layer and bonded to the transparent resin cured layer. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the slow axis of the ½ wavelength layer forms an angle of 45 ° with the absorption axis of the dichroic dye layer on the surface, and the polarization axis of the linearly polarizing layer is the dichroic dye layer. Affixed to match the absorption axis.

Thus, the structure shown in FIG. 7 (however, in FIG. 7, the polyimide film, the alignment film, and the polymerization used when the protective layer disposed on the front and back surfaces of the linear polarizing layer and the patterned retardation layer were formed) The initiator supply layer and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer used at the time of pasting are omitted), that is, the surface of the transparent support 12, 14 a made of a rubbing alignment film, right-eye pixels, and left-eye pixels. A first layer in which an image layer 16a having a dichroic image in which an image is formed by mixing them in a certain stripe arrangement, and a protective layer 18a 'composed of an oxygen blocking layer 23a and a transparent resin cured layer 24a are laminated. A dichroic image in which the back surface of the transparent support 12 is mixed with 14b made of a rubbing alignment film, and pixels for the right eye and pixels for the left eye in a fixed stripe arrangement. Image layer 1 having b, a second laminated body 19b ′ in which a protective layer 18b ′ composed of an oxygen blocking layer 23b and a transparent resin cured layer 24b is laminated; patterned on the observer side surface of the first laminated body 19a ′. A three-dimensional image printed material in which the retardation layer 20 and the linearly polarizing layer 22 were laminated was produced.
When laminating the patterned retardation layer 20 and the linearly polarizing layer 22, as shown in FIG. 2, the right-eye pixel of the stereoscopic image print and the right-eye pixel and the left-eye of the observer There is a predetermined relationship between the absorption axis direction of the dichroic dye forming each of the left-eye pixels, the in-plane slow axis direction of the second domain of the patterned retardation layer, and the polarization axis direction of the linear polarizing layer Then, they were aligned and pasted together.

[Observation of stereoscopic images]
When an observer observed the stereoscopic image printed material produced above without wearing polarized glasses from an assumed observation position, a clear stereoscopic image without crosstalk or a ghost image could be observed. In addition, when the conventional parallax barrier was used, the resolution was reduced to 1/2, whereas in the stereoscopic image printed matter of the example, there was no decrease in resolution.

2. Example 2
[Production of 3D image printed matter]
An aluminum reflective layer was laminated on the back surface of the stereoscopic image printed material produced in Example 1. That is, the structure shown in FIG. 8 (however, in FIG. 8, the polyimide film, the alignment film, and the polymerization initiator used when forming the protective layer and the patterned retardation layer disposed on the front and back surfaces of the linear polarizing layer) The supply layer and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer used at the time of pasting were omitted), that is, the surface of the transparent support 12 was fixed with 14a made of a rubbing alignment film, right eye pixels and left eye pixels. A first laminate in which a protective layer 18a ′ composed of an image layer 16a having a dichroic image mixed in a stripe arrangement and an oxygen blocking layer 23a and a transparent resin cured layer 24a is laminated. Body 19a ': On the back surface of the transparent support 12, a dichroic image is formed by mixing 14b made of a rubbing alignment film, right eye pixels and left eye pixels in a fixed stripe arrangement. Image layer 16b, A second laminated body 19b ′ in which a protective layer 18b ′ composed of an oxygen barrier layer 23b and a transparent resin cured layer 24b is laminated; a phase difference patterned on the observer side surface of the first laminated body 19a ′. A three-dimensional image printed matter was produced in which the layer 20 and the linearly polarizing layer 22; the reflective layer 26; were laminated on the back surface of the second laminate 19b ′.

[Observation of stereoscopic images]
When an observer observed the stereoscopic image printed material produced above without wearing polarized glasses from an assumed observation position, a clear stereoscopic image without crosstalk or a ghost image could be observed. In addition, when the conventional parallax barrier was used, the resolution was reduced to 1/2, whereas in the stereoscopic image printed matter of the example, there was no decrease in resolution.

3. Example 3
[Production of photographic paper for stereoscopic images]
A three-dimensional image printed material was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the rubbing alignment film was changed to the following photo alignment film.

(Preparation of photo-alignment film)
A 1% aqueous solution of photoalignment material E-1 having the following structure was spin-coated on the front and back surfaces of the cellulose acetate film and dried at 100 ° C. for 1 minute. The obtained coating film was irradiated with linearly polarized ultraviolet light (illuminance: 140 mW, irradiation time: 35 seconds, irradiation amount: 5 J / cm ² ) using a polarized ultraviolet light exposure apparatus to prepare a photographic paper for stereoscopic images. Irradiation was performed on each of the front and back surfaces, and the irradiation direction was irradiated with light so as to be orthogonal to the front and back surfaces from a direction perpendicular to the surface as shown in FIG.

[Production of 3D image printed matter]
(Preparation of dichroic dye layer)
The right-eye data and the left-eye data photographed by a digital camera equipped with two left and right photographing lenses are converted into digital data, respectively, and then the stereoscopic image ink obtained in Example 1 is piezo-type. An ink jet head was used to deposit droplets on the photo-alignment film. Divide the right-eye pixels and left-eye pixels into the same fixed stripes, so that the right-eye pixels and the left-eye pixels are alternately adjacent to each other on the front and back printing surfaces, and corresponding positions on the front and back sides. The image was constructed by overlapping the right-eye pixels and the left-eye pixels. The orientation state was fixed by solvent drying at room temperature to prepare a dichroic dye layer. The gradation corresponding to the image data was controlled by controlling the ink ejection amount and density. The orientation directions of the front and back dichroic dye layers were orthogonal, and both were horizontally oriented within a range of ± 1 °. The thickness of the dichroic dye layers on the front and back surfaces was 1 μm.

(Dichroic ratio measurement of dichroic dye layer)
A dichroic dye layer fixed under the same conditions using the same ink as described above was separately formed, and the dichroic ratio was measured.
The measurement results are shown in Table 1.

(3D image printed matter)
In the same manner as in Example 1, a stereoscopic image printed material was produced.

[Observation of stereoscopic images]
When an observer observed the stereoscopic image printed material produced above without wearing polarized glasses from an assumed observation position, a clear stereoscopic image without crosstalk or a ghost image could be observed. In addition, when the conventional parallax barrier was used, the resolution was reduced to 1/2, whereas in the stereoscopic image printed matter of the example, there was no decrease in resolution.

4). Examples 4 and 5
[Production of 3D image prints]
A stereo image print was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the magenta ink for stereo image was changed to A1-16 or A1-46.

(Dichroic ratio measurement of dichroic dye layer)
A dichroic dye layer fixed using the same magenta ink as described above under the same conditions was separately formed, and the dichroic ratio was measured.
The measurement results are shown in the following table.
(Measurement of periodic structure of dichroic dye layer)
The period and half width of the dichroic dye layer separately formed using the magenta ink were measured using an X-ray diffractometer for thin film evaluation (trade name: “ATX-G” in-plane optical system manufactured by Rigaku Corporation). It was determined from the plane measurement profile and φ scan profile. Both measurements were performed using CuKα at an incident angle of 0.18 °.
The relationship between diffraction angle and distance is
d = λ / (2 * sin θ)
(D; distance, λ; incident X-ray wavelength (CuKα; 1.54Å))
It converted by.
The measurement results are shown in the following table.

[Observation of stereoscopic images]
When the observer observed the three-dimensional image printed matter, in Examples 1 and 4 using dichroic dyes C-9 and A1-16 as magenta ink, diffraction in the direction perpendicular to the alignment axis and in the direction parallel to the alignment axis was observed. The peak half-value width is a sharp peak of 0.5 mm or less, and since the variation in intermolecular distance is small, a large dichroic ratio is obtained, and a stereoscopic image with a clear depth without crosstalk or ghost images is observed. However, in Example 5, where A1-46 was used as the magenta ink, the half-width of the diffraction peak in the direction perpendicular to the alignment axis was a broad peak of 0.89 mm, so the intermolecular distance also varied slightly. The dichroic ratio was also slightly low at 21. Therefore, a slight ghost image was recognized even in the observation of the stereoscopic image.

5). Example 6
[Production of 3D image prints]
A three-dimensional image print was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the three-dimensional magenta ink was changed to an ink having the following composition.
(Preparation of magenta ink for stereoscopic images)
The following composition was dissolved by stirring to prepare a magenta ink for stereoscopic images.
Bar-shaped liquid crystal (B) having the following structure 20 parts by mass Magenta azo dye A1-16 having the following structure 1 part by mass Chloroform (solvent) 79 parts by mass

(Dichroic ratio measurement of dichroic dye layer)
A dichroic dye layer fixed using the same magenta ink as described above under the same conditions was separately formed, and the dichroic ratio was measured.
The measurement results are shown in the following table.
(Measurement of periodic structure of dichroic dye layer)
The period and half width of a dichroic dye layer separately formed using the magenta ink under the same conditions as in Examples 4 and 5 were measured.
The measurement results are shown in the following table.

[Observation of stereoscopic images]
When the observer observed the three-dimensional image printed matter, in Example 6 using the guest-host type magenta ink, the half-width of the diffraction peak in the direction perpendicular to the alignment axis was a broad peak of 1.46 mm, so the intermolecular distance was The variation was large and the dichroic ratio was as low as 12. Therefore, although a stereoscopic image was observable, a ghost image was recognized.

6). Example 7
[Production of 3D image prints]
A three-dimensional image print was prepared in the same manner as in Example 3 except that the three-dimensional image ink was changed to the following composition and the alignment film was changed to the photo-alignment material E-2 having the following structure.
[Preparation of stereoscopic image ink]
(Preparation of dichroic dye composition)
The following composition was stirred and dissolved at 80 ° C. for 24 hours to obtain a stereoscopic image ink. These dichroic dyes were confirmed to be a lyotropic liquid crystal exhibiting liquid crystallinity by dissolving in water by observation with a polarizing microscope.
(3D red ink)
C Direct Red 81 5 parts by weight Surfactant EMAL 20C (manufactured by Kao) 0.2 parts by weight Water (solvent) 94.8 parts by weight (green ink for stereoscopic image)
C Direct Green 59 5 parts by weight Surfactant EMAL 20C (manufactured by Kao) 0.2 parts by weight Water (solvent) 94.8 parts by weight (blue ink for stereoscopic images)
CI Direct Blue 67 5 parts by weight Surfactant EMAL 20C (manufactured by Kao) 0.2 parts by weight Water (solvent) 94.8 parts by weight

(Dichroic ratio measurement of dichroic dye layer)
A dichroic dye layer fixed under the same conditions using the same ink as described above was separately formed, and the dichroic ratio was measured.
The measurement results are shown in the following table.

[Observation of stereoscopic images]
When the observer observed the three-dimensional image printed matter, in Example 7 using the hydrophilic lyotropic liquid crystal as the dichroic dye for ink, the dichroic dye had a layered structure due to strong intermolecular interaction. Since the free movement of the cage molecules is strongly hindered, the orientation control cannot be sufficiently controlled by the weak orientation regulating force of the orientation film, and the dichroic ratio is low. Therefore, although a stereoscopic image was observable, a ghost image was recognized.

7). Example 8
[Production of 3D image prints]
A three-dimensional image print was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the additive B1 (Re reducing agent) and the additive B2 (wavelength dispersion control agent) were removed from the additive solution during the production of the transparent support. The thickness of the transparent support (cellulose acetate film) at this time was 200 μm, and the Re value at 550 nm was 15 nm.
[Observation of stereoscopic images]
When the observer observed the printed three-dimensional image, the three-dimensional image was observable, but on the transparent support, the image on the side opposite to the observation side was recognized as a ghost image by Re of the support.

3D image printed material 10, 10 ', 10 "
Transparent support 12
Image receiving layer 14a, 14b
Image layer 16a, 16b
Protective layer 18a, 18b
1st laminated body 19a, 19a '
Second laminate 19b, 19b ′
Patterned retardation layer 20
Patterned retardation layer first domain 20x
Patterned retardation layer second domain 20y
Linear polarizing layer 22
Oxygen barrier layer 23a, 23b
Transparent resin cured layer 24a, 24b
Reflective layer 26

Claims (15)

A transparent support, an image layer satisfying the following condition (1), and a protective layer consisting of one or more layers satisfying the following condition (2) are provided on the front and back surfaces of the transparent support from the transparent support side. Each having first and second laminates arranged in this order;
(1) An image layer having a dichroic image including a left-eye pixel and a right-eye pixel formed by horizontally aligning at least one dichroic dye in a predetermined arrangement, wherein the first and second The absorption axes of the dichroic images contained in each of the laminates are orthogonal to each other;
(2) The in-plane retardation value (Re) with respect to visible light of the protective layer composed of one or more layers included in the first laminate is 10 nm or less;
A patterned retardation layer that satisfies the following condition (3) and a linearly polarizing layer that satisfies the following condition (4) are provided on the surface of the first laminate, and are observed from the outside of the linearly polarizing layer. 3D image printed matter;
(3) A retardation layer patterned into a first domain having an in-plane retardation of 0 and a second domain having an in-plane retardation of ½ wavelength, each of the first and second domains The left-eye pixel or the right-eye pixel is disposed at a position corresponding to the first stacked body and the second stacked body, and the correspondence relationship is reversed, and the first stacked body and the second stacked body The absorption axis of the dichroic image contained in the laminate and the in-plane slow axis of the second domain form an angle of 45 °;
(4) the polarization axis of the linearly polarizing layer coincides with one of the absorption axes of the dichroic images included in the first and second laminates;
A stereoscopic image characterized in that only the left-eye pixel is incident on the assumed left-eye observation position, and only the right-eye pixel is incident on the assumed right-eye observation position. Printed matter. Inside the dichroic image included in each of the first and second stacked bodies, the right-eye pixels and the left-eye pixels are alternately arranged adjacent to each other, and each of the first and second stacked bodies. The right-eye pixel and the left-eye pixel, or the left-eye pixel and the right-eye pixel are arranged at positions corresponding to each other in the included dichroic image. Item 3. A stereoscopic image printed matter according to item 1. The three-dimensional image printed matter according to claim 1, wherein the transparent support has an in-plane retardation value (Re) of 10 nm or less with respect to visible light. The at least one dichroic dye is liquid crystalline, and the first alignment film and the image layer of the second laminate and the transparent support are provided between the image layer of the first laminate and the transparent support. The solid body according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the solid body has a second alignment film between the body and the alignment axes of the first and second alignment films are orthogonal to each other. Printed image. The first and second alignment films are each a rubbing alignment film formed by rubbing the surfaces of films formed of a composition containing a polymer compound as a main component in directions orthogonal to each other. Item 5. A stereoscopic image printed matter according to Item 4. 5. The three-dimensional image printed matter according to claim 4, wherein each of the first and second alignment films is a photo-alignment film formed by light irradiation in directions orthogonal to each other. The at least one liquid crystalline dichroic dye is oleophilic, and the first and second alignment films contain a hydrophilic polymer as a main component. The three-dimensional image printed matter according to item 1. The protective layer comprising the one or more layers contained in the first and / or second laminate includes an oxygen barrier layer formed from a composition containing polyvinyl alcohol as a main component. The three-dimensional image printed matter of any one of -7. Any one of the protective layers composed of the one or more layers included in the first and / or second laminates contains a UV absorber. The three-dimensional image printed matter according to item 1. The at least one dichroic dye is a liquid crystal represented by the following general formula (I), the following general formula (II), the following general formula (III), the following general formula (IV), or the following general formula (V). The three-dimensional printed matter according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which is a dichroic dye.

(Wherein R ^{11 to} R ¹⁴ each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; R ¹⁵ and R ¹⁶ each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group; L ^11, -N = N -, - CH = N -, - N = CH -, - C (= O) O -, - OC (= O) -, or represents -CH = ^{CH-; a 11} Represents a phenyl group which may have a substituent, a naphthyl group which may have a substituent, or an aromatic heterocyclic group which may have a substituent; B ¹¹ represents a substituent; Represents a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group or a divalent aromatic heterocyclic group which may be present; n represents an integer of 1 to 5, and when n is 2 or more, the plurality of B ¹¹ are the same as each other But it may be different.)

(In the formula, R ²¹ and R ²² each represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, or a substituent represented by -L ²² -Y, provided that at least one represents a group other than a hydrogen atom. ; ^{L 22} is an alkylene group, each of two or more CH ₂ groups that are not one CH ₂ group or adjacent existing in the alkylene group -O -, - COO -, - OCO -, - OCOO—, —NRCOO—, —OCONR—, —CO—, —S—, —SO ₂ —, —NR—, —NRSO ₂ —, or —SO ₂ NR— (R represents a hydrogen atom or a carbon number of 1-4. Y represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group, a carboxyl group, a halogen atom, or a polymerizable group; and L ²¹ represents an azo group (—N═), respectively. N-), carbonyloxy group -C (= O) O-), oxycarbonyl group (-O-C (= O)-), imino group (-N = CH-), and vinylene group (-C = C-) Dye represents an azo dye residue represented by the following general formula (IIa);

In formula (IIa), * represents a bond to L ²¹ ; X ²¹ represents a hydroxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group, an unsubstituted amino group, or a mono- or dialkylamino Ar ²¹ represents an aromatic hydrocarbon ring group or an aromatic heterocyclic group each optionally having a substituent; n represents an integer of 1 to 3, and when n is 2 or more, Two Ar ²¹ may be the same as or different from each other. )

(Wherein R ^{31 to} R ³⁵ each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent; R ³⁶ and R ³⁷ each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group which may have a substituent; Q ³¹ Represents an optionally substituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, aromatic heterocyclic group or cyclohexane ring group; L ³¹ represents a divalent linking group; A ³¹ represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom)

(Wherein R ⁴¹ and R ⁴² each represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and may be bonded to each other to form a ring; Ar ⁴ is an optionally substituted divalent aromatic hydrocarbon; A group or an aromatic heterocyclic group; R ⁴³ and R ⁴⁴ each represent a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group, and may be bonded to each other to form a heterocyclic ring.)

(In the formula, A ¹ and A ² each independently represents a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon ring group or heterocyclic group.) The three-dimensional image printed matter according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the patterned retardation layer is obtained by curing a curable liquid crystalline composition. The patterned retardation layer is formed by pattern exposure of a film made of a curable liquid crystal composition to form or disappear in-plane retardation to form first and second domains. The three-dimensional image printed matter according to claim 11. The stereoscopic image printed matter according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a non-depolarizing reflective layer on a surface opposite to the observation side. A dichroic dye composition containing at least an organic solvent and at least one dichroic dye dissolved in the organic solvent, on the surface and the back surface of the transparent support, simultaneously or separately, Each of the right-eye pixels is applied in an image-like manner in a predetermined arrangement; and the organic solvent in the composition is evaporated to spontaneously or horizontally follow the at least one dichroic dye. Letting;
The manufacturing method of the three-dimensional image printed matter of any one of Claims 1-13 containing at least. The method according to claim 14, wherein the liquid crystalline dichroic dye composition is applied by an inkjet method.

Images